CVE-2004-2266 in Ansel
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Ansel 2.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to modify SQL statements via the image parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2266 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Ansel 2.1 and earlier versions of the Ansel photo gallery application. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input through the image parameter, which is processed without adequate sanitization or validation before being incorporated into SQL queries. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the underlying database by injecting malicious SQL code through the image parameter, potentially enabling unauthorized access, data modification, or complete database compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and proper parameterization in database query construction, which has been a persistent issue in web applications since the early days of database-driven systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits specially crafted input through the image parameter that alters the intended SQL query structure. This type of injection attack leverages the absence of proper input filtering mechanisms and demonstrates poor secure coding practices that violate fundamental security principles. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89 which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into input fields for execution by the database. The flaw represents a failure in the application's input validation and output encoding processes, allowing attackers to bypass normal query execution paths and inject arbitrary SQL commands. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation, specifically targeting database communication protocols through injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification to potentially enable complete system compromise. An attacker could exploit this flaw to extract sensitive information from the database, modify or delete records, create new user accounts with administrative privileges, or even escalate privileges within the application environment. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web-facing applications. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire photo gallery system, potentially exposing user credentials, personal images, and other sensitive data stored within the database. Organizations using affected versions of Ansel face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized system access, particularly in environments where the application handles sensitive or personal information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues. The most effective immediate solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Ansel that properly implements input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization techniques, including the use of prepared statements and parameterized queries that separate SQL code from data. The application should validate all user inputs against expected formats and reject any input that contains potentially malicious SQL characters or sequences. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and database permissions can limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts. Security monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns that might indicate injection attempts. This vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding guidelines such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and emphasizes the need for regular security testing including penetration testing and code reviews to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.