CVE-2006-2157 in Plogger
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in gallery.php in Plogger Beta 2.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter, when the level is set to "slideshow". NOTE: This is a different vulnerability than CVE-2005-4246.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2157 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Plogger Beta 2.1 content management system that affects the gallery.php script. This security weakness specifically manifests when the application's display level is configured to "slideshow" mode, creating a pathway for remote attackers to inject malicious SQL commands through the id parameter. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. This particular flaw falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a severe weakness in application security that allows attackers to manipulate database operations and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the gallery.php script processes the id parameter without adequate sanitization measures, allowing malicious input to be directly concatenated into SQL query strings. When an attacker supplies a crafted id value containing SQL payload syntax, the application executes these commands with the privileges of the database user account, potentially enabling full database compromise. The slideshow display mode appears to be a critical factor in this vulnerability as it likely triggers different code paths within the application that handle parameter processing differently than other display modes, making it particularly susceptible to manipulation. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1190 for exploit for execution through web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-2157 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete database compromise and potential system infiltration. Attackers could extract sensitive user credentials, personal information, and application configuration details stored in the database. The vulnerability also enables attackers to modify or delete database records, potentially corrupting the application's content management capabilities and affecting the integrity of the entire Plogger installation. Given that this is a remote exploit, attackers do not require physical access to the system or network privileges to leverage this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. The flaw affects all versions of Plogger Beta 2.1 and earlier, indicating that this was a persistent security issue within the application's codebase that was not adequately addressed in the affected releases.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching and code review processes to address the root cause of the SQL injection flaw. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent user-supplied data from being interpreted as SQL commands. The recommended approach involves using prepared statements or stored procedures that separate SQL logic from data input, thereby eliminating the possibility of malicious SQL code execution. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and database user privilege management can limit the damage that could occur even if the vulnerability is exploited. Security monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to identify unusual database query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors, particularly in legacy applications that may not receive ongoing security updates.