CVE-2023-5917 in phpBB
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2023
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in phpBB up to 3.3.10. This issue affects the function main of the file phpBB/includes/acp/acp_icons.php of the component Smiley Pack Handler. The manipulation of the argument pak leads to cross site scripting. The attack may be initiated remotely. Upgrading to version 3.3.11 is able to address this issue. The patch is named ccf6e6c255d38692d72fcb613b113e6eaa240aac. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-244307.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-5917 represents a cross site scripting vulnerability within the phpBB forum software ecosystem, specifically affecting versions up to 3.3.10. This security flaw exists within the Smiley Pack Handler component, which is part of the administrative control panel functionality. The vulnerability manifests in the main function of the file phpBB/includes/acp/acp_icons.php where improper input validation occurs when processing the pak argument. This particular flaw falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross Site Scripting, which is a critical security concern in web applications. The vulnerability's classification as remotely exploitable means that attackers can initiate malicious payloads without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible forum installations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the pak parameter within the smiley pack handler functionality. When an attacker crafts malicious input for this parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the data before rendering it in the web interface. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers who view affected content. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages the administrative functionality of phpBB, potentially allowing unauthorized users to gain access to administrative features or execute arbitrary code within user sessions. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, data theft, or privilege escalation within the forum environment. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers can use this flaw to craft malicious payloads that target forum users.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-5917 is significant for organizations relying on phpBB installations, as the vulnerability could allow attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to administrative functions. This risk is compounded by the fact that phpBB is widely used for community forums, enterprise collaboration platforms, and various web applications where user-generated content is prevalent. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but could potentially compromise entire forum installations, leading to data breaches, unauthorized modifications, and service disruption. Organizations running affected versions of phpBB face increased risk of credential theft, content manipulation, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure if the forum serves as a gateway to other systems. The patch addressing this issue, identified by the commit hash ccf6e6c255d38692d72fcb613b113e6eaa240aac, provides the necessary input sanitization and output encoding to prevent malicious script execution. System administrators should prioritize upgrading to phpBB version 3.3.11 or later to mitigate this risk, as the patch specifically addresses the improper handling of the pak argument in the smiley pack handler component. The vulnerability's remediation process involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding techniques that align with security best practices established by organizations such as the Open Web Application Security Project and the Center for Internet Security.