Miscellaneous Hacks - Disallow HTML code in Thread Titles

Disallow HTML code in Thread Titles v1.01

Originally Posted by Staff Note

Staff Note:
Unmodified vBulletin will not evaluate HTML in thread titles. Using this modification without a hack installed that has security vulnerabilities is useless.

Also installing this modification, even with a modification installed that would make your board vulnerable to this type of HTML posting in thread titles, only will give you a false sense of security since there are many other options to exploit this, even without the use of the ">" character.

Everyone is encouraged to remove or update the vulnerable modification instead of using this hack.

Marco van Herwaarden.

By Jason Williams/Andrew Calderbank
03/09/2006

Recently there has been a spate of members posting html redirection code in thread titles, which when parsed on the forum homepage runs and redirects to whatever site they insert into the title.

This code simply disallows the characters < and > from being used in the thread titles, this is also is checked when editing the post.

It's fairly simple but puts to and end members signing up and posting redirect links. I don't know whether you'd class this as a hack or bug fix, but I hope this helps other members who are frustrated with this issue.

2 file edits
1 new phrase

Should be fairly straightforward to install.

**ALWAYS BACK UP FILES BEFORE YOU EDIT THEM!!**

v1.00

Original release

v1.01

Slight code update

[DementedMindz]

Originally Posted by Scott MacVicar

vBulletin does not allow HTML code in thread titles, the problem is the TopXStats modification which does absolutely no checking before storing / displaying data.

I'm thinking this thread should be closed since its going to cause a misconception that its a vBulletin problem, the much easier solution is to fix your TopXStats modification.

It also doesn't fix the cases where you can use things other than >, what about injecting a new parameter.

" onmouseover="window.location='www.hax0r.com'"

That should work as a title as well.

so your saying TopXStats still needs to be fixed? or the new version fixed the problem? sorry for posting this in this thread but I figured you wouldnt see it in that one.

[Marco van Herwaarden]

The new version of TopXStats should solve all known exploits in that modification.

[DementedMindz]

thanks Marco and thanks for the response.

[steadicamop]

Originally Posted by Marco van Herwaarden

Staff Note:
Unmodified vBulletin will not evaluate HTML in thread titles. Using this modification without a hack installed that has security vulnerabilities is useless.

Also installing this modification, even with a modification installed that would make your board vulnerable to this type of HTML posting in thread titles, only will give you a false sense of security since there are many other options to exploit this, even without the use of the ">" character.

Everyone is encouraged to remove or update the vulnerable modification instead of using this hack.

If this is causing issues, please delete it, I'd rather not cause confusion or issues for other members.

Jason