phpBB 2.0.0 admin_ug_auth.php u privileges management

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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9.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in phpBB 2.0.0. It has been rated as critical. This affects an unknown function of the file admin_ug_auth.php. The manipulation of the argument u leads to privileges management. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2002-1537. Moreover, an exploit is present.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in phpBB 2.0.0 (Forum Software) and classified as very critical. This issue affects an unknown function of the file admin_ug_auth.php. The manipulation of the argument u with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

admin_ug_auth.php in phpBB 2.0.0 allows local users to gain administrator privileges by directly calling admin_ug_auth.php with modifed form fields such as "u".

The weakness was disclosed 10/27/2002 by nick84 (Website). The advisory is shared at archives.neohapsis.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2002-1537. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details as well as a exploit are known. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/05/2025). MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1068 for this issue.

After immediately, there has been an exploit disclosed. It is declared as proof-of-concept. By approaching the search of inurl:admin_ug_auth.php it is possible to find vulnerable targets with Google Hacking. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 10864 (PHPBB2 Unauthorized Administrative Access Vulnerability).

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (10489), SecurityFocus (BID 6056†), OSVDB (4284†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-6344†). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.3

VulDB Base Score: 9.8
VulDB Temp Score: 9.3
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Privileges management
CWE: CWE-269 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Google Hack: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍
Exploit Delay Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

10/27/2002 🔍
10/27/2002 +0 days 🔍
10/28/2002 +1 days 🔍
03/31/2003 +154 days 🔍
03/31/2003 +0 days 🔍
03/16/2004 +351 days 🔍
12/08/2004 +266 days 🔍
08/08/2014 +3530 days 🔍
09/05/2025 +4046 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Product: phpbb.com

Advisory: archives.neohapsis.com
Researcher: nick84
Status: Not defined

CVE: CVE-2002-1537 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2002-1537
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-20237
X-Force: 10489
SecurityFocus: 6056 - phpBB2 Unauthorized Administrative Access Vulnerability
OSVDB: 4284 - phpBB admin_ug_auth.php Form Field Manipulation
Vulnerability Center: 6344 - phpBB 2.0 .0 Allows Gaining Administrative Privileges via admin_ug_auth.php, High

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 08/08/2014 11:43
Updated: 09/05/2025 03:31
Changes: 08/08/2014 11:43 (59), 05/27/2019 06:39 (4), 09/05/2025 03:31 (18)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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