Discover the security vulnerability in phpBB versions before 3.1.7-PL1 allowing CSRF token bypass, potentially compromising administrator accounts. Learn mitigation steps and best practices.
A vulnerability in phpBB versions prior to 3.1.7-PL1 allows for potential CSRF token validation bypass, posing a security risk to administrators.
Understanding CVE-2019-16993
This CVE identifies a flaw in phpBB that could be exploited by attackers to perform CSRF attacks on administrators.
What is CVE-2019-16993?
In phpBB versions before 3.1.7-PL1, inadequate validation of CSRF tokens in the BBCode page of the Administration Control Panel can enable attackers to target reauthenticated administrators by obtaining their session IDs.
The Impact of CVE-2019-16993
The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized actions being performed by attackers who exploit the CSRF token validation issue, potentially compromising the security of the phpBB platform.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-16993
This section delves into the specific technical aspects of the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability lies in the improper verification of CSRF tokens in the includes/acp/acp_bbcodes.php file within phpBB versions before 3.1.7-PL1.
Affected Systems and Versions
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by obtaining the session ID of a reauthenticated administrator and bypassing CSRF token validation on the BBCode page.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2019-16993 involves taking immediate and long-term security measures.
Immediate Steps to Take
Long-Term Security Practices
Patching and Updates