Multiple Vulnerabilities in Phorum 3.4.5
Phorum 3.4.5 Vulnerabilities
-----------------------------
Credit:
Author: : Calum Power
Version(s) : <= 3.4.5
Vendor : Phorum
Vendor URL : http://phorum.org
Vendor Contacted: Yes
Vendor Fix: Phorum has released Phorum v3.4.6 as a response to this
advisory. Please patch your vulnerable software ASAP.
Vulnerabilitiy:
Type: Cross-Site Scripting, SQL Injection
Severity: Moderately Critical
Summary:
Phorum versions prior to 3.4.6 are vulnerable to cross-site scripting and
SQL injection bugs that could allow for the remote compromise of any
server running the affected software.
Details:
VULN #1:
An XSS vulnerability exists in the script 'common.php' that allows
arbitrary code
execution on the client-side browser.
Ironically, this vulnerability is in the 'phorum_check_xss()' function.
The vulnerable code is below:
if(!is_array($value) && $key!="body" && $key!="subject" &&
$key!="hide" && stristr($value, "<script")){
echo "script detected in $key";
By sending a HTTP/POST variable to any Phorum script, an attacker
could craft the key of the variable into
an XSS attack, providing the value of the variable contains the string
"<script".
*** This vulnerability has been fixed in Phorum 5.0.2alpha. ***
Severity: Medium - This vulnerability may be exploited to obtain user
login details, spam, or perform social-engineering upon the user.
VULN #2:
Another XSS vulnerability exists in the script 'profile.php'. This
vulnerability exists via insufficient
sanitization of the variable 'EditError'. If a user is logged on, an
attacker could use this vulnerability
to include arbitrary code on the user's browser.
NOTE: Phorum (common.php) does checks for '<script>' tags, however XSS
attacks are NOT limited to just the
<script> tags! An attacker could use many forms of XSS (such as
<iframe>) to launch attacks upon users.
*** This vulnerability has been fixed in Phorum 5.0.2alpha. ***
Severity: Medium/Low - This can only be exploited when the user is
logged on, but as such could be used to reset passwords, or change any
other user info without the user knowing.
VULN #3:
Once again, there is an XSS vulnerability in the script 'login.php'
that may allow attackers to execute
arbitrary code in the users' browser (Woah, deja moo...)
This exploit is due to (again) the 'Error' variable not being
sanitized correctly.
I have created Proof-of-Concept code (using an <iframe>) that allows
for the stealing of user passwords as they are
submitted into the form.
*** This vulnerability has been fixed in Phorum 5.0.2alpha. ***
Severity: High/Critical - Due to the nature of the page, sensitive
form values could be harvested by an attacker.
VULN #4:
A SQL Injection vulnerability exists in the script 'register.php' in
the field 'hide_email'.
This vulnerability could lead to the execution of SQL commands inside
the script.
*** This code appears to not exist in Phorum 5.0.2alpha, so is
therefore fixed. ***
Severity: High - Due to the location in which the SQL injection
variable is placed, it is increasingly hard to exploit this
vulnerability to obtain any sort of privilege escalation.
--
Information Security is like decent coffee - When you have it it's
blissful, but it disappears just as you get a taste for it.---------------------------------------
By: Calum Power [Enune] www.fribble.net
Title: Multiple vulnerabilities in Phorum Forum package
Date: 24-12-2003
Vendor Description:
Phorum is a web based message board written in PHP. Phorum is designed with
high-availability and
visitor ease of use in mind. Features such as mailing list integration, easy
customization and simple
installation make Phorum a powerful add-in to any website.
Affected versions:
All vulnerabilities listed below were found in version 3.4.5 of Phorum.
However, earlier versions could be (and most likely are) affected by these
exploits.
---------------------------------------
Vulnerabilities
VULN #1:
An XSS vulnerability exists in the script 'common.php' that allows
arbitrary code
execution on the client-side browser.
Ironically, this vulnerability is in the 'phorum_check_xss()' function.
The vulnerable code is below:
if(!is_array($value) && $key!="body" && $key!="subject" && $key!="hide"
&& stristr($value, "<script")){
echo "script detected in $key";
By sending a HTTP/POST variable to any Phorum script, an attacker could
craft the key of the variable into
an XSS attack, providing the value of the variable contains the string
"<script".
*** This vulnerability has been fixed in Phorum 5.0.2alpha. ***
Severity: Medium - This vulnerability may be exploited to obtain user login
details, spam, or perform
social-engineering upon the user.
VULN #2:
Another XSS vulnerability exists in the script 'profile.php'. This
vulnerability exists via insufficient
sanitization of the variable 'EditError'. If a user is logged on, an
attacker could use this vulnerability
to include arbitrary code on the user's browser.
NOTE: Phorum (common.php) does checks for '<script>' tags, however XSS
attacks are NOT limited to just the
<script> tags! An attacker could use many forms of XSS (such as <iframe>)
to launch attacks upon users.
*** This vulnerability has been fixed in Phorum 5.0.2alpha. ***
Severity: Medium/Low - This can only be exploited when the user is logged
on, but as such could be used
to reset passwords, or change any other user info
without the user knowing.
VULN #3:
Once again, there is an XSS vulnerability in the script 'login.php' that
may allow attackers to execute
arbitrary code in the users' browser (Woah, deja moo...)
This exploit is due to (again) the 'Error' variable not being sanitized
correctly.
I have created Proof-of-Concept code (using an <iframe>) that allows for
the stealing of user passwords as they are
submitted into the form.
*** This vulnerability has been fixed in Phorum 5.0.2alpha. ***
Severity: High/Critical - Due to the nature of the page, sensitive form
values could be harvested by an attacker.
VULN #4:
A SQL Injection vulnerability exists in the script 'register.php' in the
field 'hide_email'.
This vulnerability could lead to the execution of SQL commands inside the
script.
*** This code appears to not exist in Phorum 5.0.2alpha, so is therefore
fixed. ***
Severity: High - Due to the location in which the SQL injection variable is
placed, it is increasingly hard
to exploit this vulnerability to obtain any sort of
privilege escalation.