CVE-2007-2457 in Pixaria Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in resources/includes/class.Smarty.php in Pixaria Gallery before 1.4.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the cfg[sys][base_path] parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2457 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw in the Pixaria Gallery software version 1.4.2 and earlier. This issue exists within the Smarty template class file located at resources/includes/class.Smarty.php, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into file path operations. The vulnerability specifically affects the cfg[sys][base_path] parameter, which is processed without adequate security controls, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary PHP code through remote URLs.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation mechanisms within the application's configuration handling process. When the application processes the cfg[sys][base_path] parameter, it directly uses the provided value in file inclusion operations without implementing proper sanitization or whitelisting controls. This allows attackers to manipulate the parameter to point to remote malicious PHP scripts hosted on external servers, effectively enabling remote code execution on the target system. The flaw aligns with CWE-98, which describes improper control of code generation capabilities, and represents a classic example of a remote file inclusion vulnerability that has been prevalent in web applications for many years.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations running affected versions of Pixaria Gallery. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The impact extends beyond immediate code execution to include potential privilege escalation and lateral movement opportunities, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Pixaria Gallery version 1.4.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches for this vulnerability. Additionally, input validation should be strengthened at the application level to prevent any unsanitized user input from being used in file inclusion operations. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though they should not replace proper code-level fixes. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the attack vectors available to adversaries. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime application self-protection mechanisms and regular security code reviews to prevent similar issues in other components of their web applications.