CVE-2008-0421 in Invision Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Invision Gallery 2.0.7 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the album parameter in a rate command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0421 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Invision Gallery version 2.0.7 and earlier installations. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user input within the rate command functionality, specifically targeting the album parameter. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-89 which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into input fields for execution by the database. Attackers can exploit this flaw remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process user-supplied data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before incorporating it into SQL query construction. When a user submits a rating request through the album parameter, the application directly concatenates this input into database queries without adequate validation or parameterization. This allows malicious actors to inject crafted SQL payloads that bypass normal authentication mechanisms and execute arbitrary database commands. The attack vector specifically targets the rate command functionality, suggesting that the vulnerability exists in the application's rating module where user interactions with album content are processed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with extensive database access capabilities. Successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise including data exfiltration, unauthorized modifications, and potential privilege escalation within the application's database environment. The remote execution capability means attackers can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the server. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors and increases the potential attack surface significantly. Organizations running affected versions of Invision Gallery face substantial risk of unauthorized data access and potential system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available version of Invision Gallery that addresses this SQL injection flaw. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries in the application code can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Security measures should include web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, as well as regular security assessments of web applications to identify potential injection points. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, highlighting the need for proper application hardening and network segmentation to limit potential attack impact. Organizations should also implement database access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized database activities that may result from successful exploitation of this vulnerability.