CVE-2020-5502: phpBB CSRF Vulnerability
Summary
CVE-2020-5502: phpBB allows CSRF. Affects phpbb/phpbb versions < 3.2.9. Fixed in 3.2.9. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- phpbb · Bitnami
The same CVE-2020-5502 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
phpBB is a popular open-source forum software written in PHP. It provides a platform for users to create and manage online communities. The vulnerability in question, identified as CVE-2020-5502, affects phpBB version 3.2.8. This vulnerability allows for a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attack that can be exploited to approve pending group memberships without proper authorization.
Vulnerability Detail
The CSRF vulnerability in phpBB 3.2.8 enables an attacker to trick an authenticated user into performing unwanted actions on their behalf. By crafting a malicious request and enticing the user to visit a specially crafted webpage or click on a manipulated link, the attacker can approve pending group memberships without the user's knowledge or consent. This can lead to unauthorized access and potential abuse of privileges within the affected phpBB installation.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
3.2.9
This is the first release that contains the fix.
composer require phpbb/phpbb:3.2.9Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can disable the automatic approval of pending group memberships in the phpBB settings. By requiring manual approval for all group membership requests, the risk of CSRF attacks exploiting this vulnerability can be mitigated. To implement this workaround, navigate to the phpBB administration panel, locate the group settings, and disable the automatic approval feature.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the phpBB CSRF vulnerability (CVE-2020-5502) allows for unauthorized approval of pending group memberships, potentially leading to unauthorized access and abuse of privileges. To mitigate this vulnerability, it is crucial to upgrade phpBB to version 3.2.9 or later. Additionally, disabling the automatic approval of pending group memberships can serve as a temporary workaround. For further assistance and support in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for phpbb/phpbb →
FAQ
phpBB is an open-source forum software written in PHP that allows users to create and manage online communities.
A CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) attack is a type of security vulnerability where an attacker tricks an authenticated user into performing unwanted actions on their behalf.
The CSRF vulnerability in phpBB 3.2.8 allows an attacker to approve pending group memberships without proper authorization, by exploiting the lack of proper CSRF protection.
Exploiting this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access and potential abuse of privileges within the affected phpBB installation.
To fix this vulnerability, it is recommended to upgrade phpBB to version 3.2.9 or later, as the phpBB development team has addressed this issue in subsequent releases.
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