Description
Interpretation conflict in phpBB 2.0.17, with remote avatars and avatar uploading enabled, allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an HTML file with a GIF or JPEG file extension, which causes the HTML to be executed by a victim who views the file in Internet Explorer, which renders malformed image types as HTML, enabling cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. NOTE: it could be argued that this vulnerability is due to a design flaw in Internet Explorer (CVE-2005-3312) and the proper fix should be in that browser; if so, then this should not be treated as a vulnerability in phpBB.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 3.1 | phpbb2 | 2.0.13+1-6sarge2 | DSA-925-1 |
Advisories 1
- DSA-925-1 phpbb2 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 15170 vdb-entry
- phpbb-avatar-bypass-security(22837) vdb-entry
- DSA-925 vendor-advisory
- 20051022 phpBB 2.0.17 (and other BB systems as well) Cookie disclosure exploit. mailing-list
- 18098 third-party-advisory
- 17295 third-party-advisory
- 20051022 phpBB 2.0.17 (and other BB systems as well) Cookie disclosure mailing-list