# CVE-2004-1315: Code injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary PHP code via double-encoded highlight parameters in phpBB, as exploited by the Santy.A worm.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 31 Dec 2004
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-x5j2-7752-gm38

## What is CVE-2004-1315?

CVE-2004-1315 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Phpbb Group Phpbb, published on 31 Dec 2004. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

viewtopic.php in phpBB 2.x before 2.0.11 improperly URL decodes the highlight parameter when extracting words and phrases to highlight, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code by double-encoding the highlight value so that special characters are inserted into the result, which is then processed by PHP exec, as exploited by the Santy.A worm.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2004-1315?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Phpbb Group Phpbb.

## How do I fix CVE-2004-1315?

No fix has been published for CVE-2004-1315 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2004-1315 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2004-1315 exists.

Public exploit code:

- phpBB 2.0.x - 'viewtopic.php' PHP Script Injection (exploitdb)
- phpBB viewtopic.php Arbitrary Code Execution (metasploit)
- phpBB 2.0.10 - Remote Command Execution (exploitdb)
- PHP-Nuke 7.0/8.1/8.1.35 - Wormable Remote Code Execution (exploitdb)
- phpBB - 'viewtopic.php' Arbitrary Code Execution (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Phpbb Group Phpbb

- [CVE-2007-1695](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-1695/): File upload in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2006-6839](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-6839/): Open redirect in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2006-6840](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-6840/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2006-6841](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-6841/): Cross-site request forgery in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2002-2176](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-2176/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2004-1315 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2004-1315 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Phpbb Group Phpbb, published on 31 Dec 2004. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2004-1315 exists.

Affected product: Phpbb Group Phpbb. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1315/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1315/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2004-1315
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2004-1315
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2004-1315

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1315/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.