CVE-2007-1550 in phpx
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in phpx 3.5.15 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) image_id or (2) cat_id parameter to (a) gallery.php; the (3) news_id parameter to (b) news.php or (c) print.php; (4) the news_cat_id parameter to news.php; the (5) cat_id, (6) topic_id, or (7) post_id parameter to (d) forums.php; or (8) the user_id parameter to (e) users.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-1550 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting phpx version 3.5.15, a web-based content management system that was widely used for creating and managing online galleries, news sections, and forum functionalities. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input parameters that are directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database operations and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The flaw affects multiple core files within the application including gallery.php, news.php, print.php, forums.php, and users.php, demonstrating the widespread nature of the vulnerability across different functional modules of the platform.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs through several distinct parameter injection points that correspond to different database tables and operations. Attackers can exploit the image_id and cat_id parameters in gallery.php to manipulate image and category data retrieval, while news_id parameters in news.php and print.php allow for manipulation of news article records. The news_cat_id parameter in news.php creates additional attack surface for category-based data manipulation. Forum-related parameters including cat_id, topic_id, and post_id in forums.php enable attackers to manipulate discussion threads and posts, while the user_id parameter in users.php provides access to user account information. These injection points directly translate user input into SQL commands without proper validation or escaping, making them susceptible to malicious payload injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data manipulation, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database. This could result in complete database compromise, allowing unauthorized users to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and system configuration details. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized database operations such as data deletion, modification, or extraction of confidential information, potentially leading to full system compromise. The widespread nature of the vulnerability across multiple application modules increases the attack surface significantly, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on this CMS for their web presence.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of CWE-89 SQL Injection, which is categorized under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a fundamental flaw in input validation and database interaction handling. The attack pattern aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, where attackers exploit web application vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to backend systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, parameterized queries, and proper sanitization of all user-supplied data before database interaction. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of secure coding practices and regular security audits, particularly for legacy web applications that may not have received proper security updates or patches. Additionally, the use of web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to protect against such exploitation attempts.
The vulnerability demonstrates how interconnected web applications can amplify the impact of a single security flaw, as the exploitation of one module could potentially provide attackers with information that aids in attacking other modules. This interconnectedness represents a key consideration in vulnerability management and risk assessment, where a single unpatched vulnerability can compromise entire application ecosystems. The widespread nature of the affected parameters across different files suggests that the vulnerability was likely introduced during the initial development phase of the application, indicating the need for comprehensive code review and security testing throughout the software development lifecycle. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, implement proper input validation mechanisms, and conduct thorough security assessments of their web applications to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities.