CVE-2004-1987 in Photo Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
picmgmtbatch.inc.php in Coppermine Photo Gallery 1.2.2b and 1.2.0 RC4 allows remote attackers with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the (1) $CONFIG[ impath ] or (2) $CONFIG[ jpeg_qual ] parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1987 resides within the picmgmtbatch.inc.php component of Coppermine Photo Gallery versions 1.2.2b and 1.2.0 RC4, representing a critical command injection flaw that enables remote attackers with administrative access to execute arbitrary system commands. This vulnerability operates through the manipulation of configuration parameters that are processed without adequate input sanitization, creating a pathway for malicious command execution within the target system. The flaw specifically targets two configuration variables: $CONFIG[impath] and $CONFIG[jpeg_qual], both of which are susceptible to shell metacharacter injection attacks that can be exploited by authenticated administrators to gain unauthorized system control. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-77, which categorizes command injection flaws as weaknesses that allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands through improper input validation. The attack vector requires an attacker to possess administrative privileges within the Coppermine Photo Gallery system, making this a privilege escalation vulnerability that can be particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access is not properly secured or monitored.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the insecure handling of user-supplied input within the configuration management system. When administrators modify the impath or jpeg_qual parameters through the web interface, the values are directly incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization or validation. This creates a direct injection point where shell metacharacters such as semicolons, pipes, or backticks can be used to append additional commands to the executed system calls. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic improper input validation issue where the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that have meaning within the shell context. The impact of this flaw extends beyond simple command execution to potentially provide attackers with full system compromise capabilities, including the ability to read sensitive files, modify system configurations, or establish persistent access through backdoor creation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) categories, as it leverages legitimate system interfaces to execute malicious commands with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-1987 is significant for organizations running vulnerable versions of Coppermine Photo Gallery, as it provides a direct path to system compromise when administrative credentials are either obtained through social engineering, weak authentication, or other means. The vulnerability essentially transforms legitimate administrative functionality into a weaponized attack surface, making it particularly dangerous in shared hosting environments or systems where multiple administrators have access. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform reconnaissance activities, escalate privileges, or establish persistent access within the compromised system. The exploitation process requires minimal technical expertise once administrative access is obtained, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors. Organizations utilizing affected versions should consider this vulnerability as a critical threat that could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or service disruption. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege, as the attack requires only administrative access rather than elevated system privileges. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a failure in the application's defense in depth mechanisms, where proper input sanitization should have prevented the command injection regardless of user privileges. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of keeping software updated, as newer versions of Coppermine Photo Gallery would have addressed this specific input validation issue through proper parameter sanitization and command execution mechanisms.