CVE-2005-2216 in PhotoGal Photo Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in gals.php in PhotoGal Photo Gallery 1.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via the news_file parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2216 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw within the PhotoGal Photo Gallery version 1.5 and earlier, specifically affecting the gals.php script. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly restrict user-supplied data from being directly incorporated into file inclusion operations. The vulnerability manifests through the news_file parameter which accepts external file references without proper validation, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code on the target system. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of insecure direct object references and improper input handling practices that have been consistently documented in security frameworks and standards.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker manipulates the news_file parameter to reference a remote malicious file hosted on an external server. The gals.php script processes this parameter without sufficient sanitization, allowing the PHP interpreter to include and execute the remote file content as part of the web application's runtime execution. This creates a pathway for attackers to inject malicious PHP code, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it operates at the application layer, allowing remote code execution without requiring authentication or local system access.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to web applications running vulnerable versions of PhotoGal Photo Gallery, particularly in environments where the gallery is exposed to untrusted user inputs or external network traffic. The attack surface extends beyond simple code execution to include potential privilege escalation, data corruption, and service disruption. Organizations utilizing affected versions face increased exposure to automated exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability is well-documented and easily exploitable by threat actors. The lack of proper input validation creates a persistent security gap that can be leveraged for various malicious activities including but not limited to web shell deployment, database access, and system reconnaissance. This vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of implementing proper secure coding practices and input validation mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-2216 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected PhotoGal Photo Gallery installations to versions that address the remote file inclusion vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization measures that reject or escape any external file references before they are processed by the application. The implementation of a whitelist-based approach for file inclusion parameters, combined with proper parameter validation and secure coding practices, would significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Security configurations should include disabling remote file inclusion features in PHP settings and implementing web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious parameter values. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-98 and CWE-20 categories, representing improper input validation and insecure direct object references respectively, and falls under ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1059 for command and script injection. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and ensure that secure coding practices are consistently applied throughout the organization's software development lifecycle.