CVE-2005-1629 in PHP Pro
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in member.php for Photopost PHP Pro allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the verifykey parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1629 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Photopost PHP Pro application's member.php script. This security weakness specifically targets the verifykey parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands into the application's database layer. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql query constructs. According to the common weakness enumeration standard CWE-89, this flaw directly maps to improper neutralization of special elements used in sql commands, making it a classic sql injection vulnerability that can be exploited to bypass authentication, extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even escalate privileges within the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary sql commands on the underlying database server. This means that an attacker could potentially gain unauthorized access to user credentials, personal information, and other sensitive data stored within the photopost application's database. The remote nature of the attack vector eliminates the need for physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that are publicly accessible. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform data manipulation, create backdoor accounts, or even execute operating system commands if the database server allows such functionality through stored procedures or extended privileges.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics outlined in the attack technique framework, particularly those related to command injection and credential access. The verifykey parameter likely serves as a verification mechanism for user accounts or administrative functions, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise user sessions or elevate their privileges within the application. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability exists in a legacy application context, where proper input validation techniques were not yet standardized or widely implemented. The flaw demonstrates the importance of implementing robust input sanitization and parameterized queries as defensive measures against sql injection attacks. Organizations should immediately implement patches or code modifications that properly escape special sql characters, validate input parameters, and employ prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent malicious sql code execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1629 should include immediate implementation of input validation measures that filter or escape special sql characters from the verifykey parameter. The application should be updated to utilize parameterized queries or prepared statements when interacting with the database, ensuring that user input is treated as data rather than executable code. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and limiting database privileges for the web application can reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual sql query patterns or suspicious database access attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase, as this particular flaw likely indicates broader security issues that may affect other parameters or scripts within the photopost php pro application. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems that can help identify and block sql injection attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.