CVE-2004-1989 in Photo Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in theme.php in Coppermine Photo Gallery 1.2.2b allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code by modifying the THEME_DIR parameter to reference a URL on a remote web server that contains user_list_info_box.inc.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1989 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw in the Coppermine Photo Gallery version 1.2.2b, specifically within the theme.php script. This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure direct object references and represents a classic path traversal attack vector that enables attackers to manipulate application behavior through parameter manipulation. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input that is used to construct file paths, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject external URLs into the application's execution flow.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the THEME_DIR parameter being directly incorporated into file inclusion operations without proper sanitization. When an attacker modifies this parameter to point to a remote web server hosting a malicious user_list_info_box.inc file, the PHP application executes the remote code as if it were part of the legitimate application. This creates a remote code execution scenario where attackers can inject arbitrary PHP code and potentially gain full control over the affected server. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to execute code on the target system with the privileges of the web server process, which typically has write access to web directories and can potentially escalate to system-level privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access to the compromised system. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PHP) and T1505.003 (Server Software Component: Web Shell), as attackers can deploy web shells or other malicious components through the remote inclusion mechanism. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code) and CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory), which highlight the dangers of insufficient input validation and improper file path handling. Organizations running affected versions of Coppermine Photo Gallery face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the vendor-supplied patch that properly validates and sanitizes the THEME_DIR parameter before using it in file inclusion operations. Organizations should also implement input validation at multiple levels, including parameter validation, URL scheme checking, and implementing allowlists for legitimate theme directories. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious requests attempting to exploit this vulnerability, while also providing additional layers of defense. Security monitoring should focus on unusual file inclusion patterns and requests to external domains from the web server. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, as the flaw could have been prevented through proper parameter sanitization and the implementation of secure coding practices that prevent external file inclusion attacks.