CVE-2007-0835 in Photo Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
admin.php in Coppermine Photo Gallery 1.4.10, and possibly earlier, allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary shell commands via shell metacharacters (";" semicolon) in the "Command line options for ImageMagick" form field, when used as an option to ImageMagick s convert command. NOTE: The provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2015
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0835 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Coppermine Photo Gallery 1.4.10 software ecosystem. This issue resides in the admin.php administrative interface component where user input is improperly sanitized before being processed by the ImageMagick convert command. The vulnerability specifically targets the "Command line options for ImageMagick" form field, which serves as an interface for administrators to configure ImageMagick processing parameters. When authenticated users submit malicious input containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, the application fails to properly escape or validate these inputs, creating an avenue for arbitrary code execution on the underlying system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the fundamental principle of command injection attacks where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into system command execution without adequate sanitization. The flaw occurs because the application constructs shell commands by concatenating user-provided parameters directly into the ImageMagick convert command string, without implementing proper input validation or escaping mechanisms. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-77, which specifically addresses "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection'). The attack vector requires an authenticated user with administrative privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses many standard perimeter security controls that protect against unauthenticated attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary shell commands on the server hosting the Coppermine Photo Gallery installation. The consequences extend beyond simple code execution to include potential system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network infrastructure. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, modify system files, access sensitive data, or use the compromised server as a launch point for further attacks against other network resources. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires only administrative access, which is typically more limited than general user access, yet still provides sufficient privileges for system-level compromise.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability involves immediate implementation of proper input validation and sanitization techniques. System administrators should ensure that all user inputs are properly escaped or encoded before being passed to system commands, implementing strict whitelisting of acceptable characters and command parameters. The solution requires modifying the admin.php script to sanitize the "Command line options for ImageMagick" field by removing or escaping special shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, and pipes. Additionally, organizations should implement the principle of least privilege by restricting administrative access to only necessary personnel and establishing robust monitoring of administrative activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in preventing command injection attacks and aligns with ATT&CK framework technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the need for proper command construction and input handling in web applications. Organizations should also consider upgrading to patched versions of Coppermine Photo Gallery or implementing web application firewalls to mitigate potential exploitation attempts while awaiting official patches.