CSRF Vulnerability in phpBB3: Security Flaw in Administration Control Panel
Summary
UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16993: In phpBB before 3.1.7-PL1, includes/acp/acp_bbcodes.php has improper verification of a CSRF token on the BBCode page in the Administration Control Panel. Affects phpbb3 versions < 3.0.12-1ubuntu0.1~esm1. Fixed in 3.0.12-1ubuntu0.1~esm1. How to fix ↓
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Background
phpBB3 is a widely used open-source forum software that allows users to create and manage online discussion boards. It provides features such as user authentication, customizable themes, and a robust administration control panel (ACP) for managing forum settings and user permissions. However, a critical vulnerability has been identified in versions prior to 3.1.7-PL1, which affects the security of the ACP, specifically in the handling of CSRF tokens.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2019-16993, arises from improper verification of CSRF tokens in the BBCode page of the Administration Control Panel. This flaw allows an attacker to exploit the vulnerability if they can obtain the session ID of a reauthenticated administrator. The potential ramifications include unauthorized actions being performed on behalf of the administrator, leading to data breaches or forum manipulation.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
3.0.12-1ubuntu0.1~esm1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade phpbb3Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary measure, administrators can limit access to the Administration Control Panel to trusted IP addresses or implement additional security measures such as two-factor authentication to mitigate the risk of CSRF attacks until the package is updated.
Conclusion
The CSRF vulnerability in phpBB3 poses a significant risk to forum administrators, allowing attackers to exploit the flaw if they can obtain session IDs. It is crucial to update to the latest patched versions to safeguard against potential attacks. Implementing additional security measures can also help mitigate risks until updates are applied.
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FAQ
A Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attack tricks a user into executing unwanted actions on a web application in which they are authenticated.
If you are running a version of phpBB3 prior to 3.1.7-PL1, your installation is vulnerable to this CSRF issue.
An attacker could perform actions on behalf of an administrator, potentially leading to unauthorized access or data manipulation.
Yes, you can use tools like Vulert, which monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities using just a manifest file.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without needing to sign up.
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