CVE-2004-2746 in Xtremeasp Photogallery
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in adminlogin.asp in XTREME ASP Photo Gallery 2.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) username and (2) password parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2024
The CVE-2004-2746 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw in XTREME ASP Photo Gallery version 2.0, specifically within the adminlogin.asp component. This vulnerability exposes the application to remote code execution attacks through improper input validation in the authentication mechanism. The flaw affects the username and password parameters, which are directly incorporated into SQL query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization, creating a direct pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries and potentially gain unauthorized administrative access to the photo gallery system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into database queries. When attackers provide malicious input through the username or password fields, the application processes these values directly within SQL command strings, allowing attackers to inject additional SQL commands that can manipulate the database structure or retrieve sensitive information. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications, where insufficient input validation creates opportunities for attackers to execute unauthorized database operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized administrative control. Attackers can leverage this weakness to bypass authentication mechanisms, execute arbitrary database commands, and potentially escalate privileges to gain full control over the photo gallery server. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access or local system credentials, making it particularly dangerous in web-facing applications where the attack surface is already exposed to internet traffic. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, where adversaries target exposed applications to gain initial access to target networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2746 should prioritize immediate implementation of parameterized queries or prepared statements to ensure that user input is properly separated from SQL command structures. Organizations should implement input validation and sanitization measures that filter or escape special characters commonly used in SQL injection attacks, including single quotes, semicolons, and comment markers. Additionally, the application should enforce proper authentication controls with account lockout mechanisms and implement least privilege principles to limit the damage from successful exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns that may indicate SQL injection attempts, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing proper security coding practices that prevent similar issues from occurring in future development cycles.