# CVE-2023-34249: benjjvi/PyBB may send unsanitized request to SQL database

> Attackers can execute arbitrary SQL commands via unsanitized requests in PyBB, potentially reading or modifying database contents.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Jun 2023
- **Updated:** 3 Jan 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5qrx-fgxq-95gg

## What is CVE-2023-34249?

CVE-2023-34249 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in benjjvi PyBB, published on 13 Jun 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

benjjvi/PyBB is an open source bulletin board. Prior to commit dcaeccd37198ecd3e41ea766d1099354b60d69c2, benjjvi/PyBB is vulnerable to SQL Injection. This vulnerability has been fixed as of commit dcaeccd37198ecd3e41ea766d1099354b60d69c2. As a workaround, a user may be able to update the software manually to avoid this problem by sanitizing user queries to `BulletinDatabaseModule.py`.

Weakness: CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-34249?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Pybb Project Pybb.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-34249?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-34249 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-34249 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-34249 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in benjjvi PyBB

- [CVE-2023-34461](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-34461/): Cross-site Scripting (XSS) Availability in PyBB (medium 4.6)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-34249 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-34249 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in benjjvi PyBB, published on 13 Jun 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-34249 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: benjjvi PyBB. 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-2023-34249/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-34249/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-34249
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-34249
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-34249

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-34249/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.