Discuz! Unauthorized Admin Access Scanner

Discuz! is a widely used community forum software system known for its rich features and flexibility. It is popular among various organizations, communities, and interest groups for creating interactive online forums. With Discuz!, users can engage in discussions, share information, and build online communities around common interests. Its functionality extends beyond just forum posts, incorporating social networking and content management features. The software is widely adopted due to its ease of use and extensibility, supporting numerous plugins and customizations. It is typically hosted on web servers, requiring proper configuration to ensure secure operation.

An unauthorized access vulnerability exists within the Discuz! X3 tools.php component. This vulnerability allows attackers to gain unintended access to restricted sections of the software, potentially leading to security breaches. Unauthorized access vulnerabilities pose a significant security risk as they undermine the software's intended access control mechanisms. Attackers can utilize this vulnerability to bypass authentication and authorization processes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it might be exploited without needing direct user interaction or credentials. Such vulnerabilities often arise due to insufficient validation or improper permission checks within the code.

The vulnerability is located in the `tools.php` component, specifically affecting its capability to perform actions without proper authorization. The vulnerable endpoint is the `tools.php` page, which can be accessed using specific parameters that bypass security measures. It involves the conditional combination of certain status codes and response body content that indicates successful unauthorized access. Attackers exploit this endpoint to execute privileged functions or retrieve sensitive information from the server. The presence of this vulnerability is indicated by particular strings in the response body, such as `?action=setadmin`, `tools.php?action=login`, and `toolpassword`.

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow malicious actors to execute administrative tasks within the Discuz! system. They might gain access to sensitive data, alter settings, or disrupt the forum's normal operation. Unauthorized access can lead to data breaches, loss of confidentiality, and potential manipulation of community content. Moreover, it could serve as a foothold for attackers to further infiltrate and compromise additional systems or data linked to the Discuz! platform. The consequences of unauthorized access vary from minor privacy violations to more severe impacts like full control of the application.

REFERENCES

• http://discuz.net/