CVE-2006-1600 in PhpWebGallery
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in category.php in PhpWebGallery 1.4.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the search parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1600 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the PhpWebGallery 1.4.1 web application, specifically affecting the category.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input through the search parameter, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries and execute unauthorized commands. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code that bypasses normal authentication and authorization mechanisms.
This SQL injection vulnerability operates through the improper handling of the search parameter within the category.php file, where user-supplied data is directly concatenated into SQL query strings without adequate sanitization or parameterization. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that alters the intended logic of database queries, potentially enabling them to extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even gain administrative control over the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform arbitrary database operations that could compromise the entire web gallery system. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to access private user information, manipulate gallery content, and potentially escalate privileges within the database environment. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local system access or authentication credentials to initiate malicious activities, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible web environments where PhpWebGallery instances are deployed.
Security practitioners should consider implementing multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, including input validation, parameterized queries, and proper output encoding. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, highlighting the importance of regular security assessments and patch management. Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of PhpWebGallery, implement web application firewalls, and conduct thorough code reviews to identify similar injection vulnerabilities throughout their application stack. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts, ensuring that database accounts used by the web application have only necessary permissions to reduce the attack surface and limit the impact of any successful breach.