CVE-2008-3486 in Photo Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the user_get_profile function in include/functions.inc.php in Coppermine Photo Gallery (CPG) 1.4.18 and earlier, when the charset is utf-8, allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via a .. (dot dot) in the lang part of serialized data in an _data cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3486 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Coppermine Photo Gallery platform, specifically affecting versions 1.4.18 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the user_get_profile function located within the include/functions.inc.php file, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability becomes particularly dangerous when the application operates with utf-8 character encoding, as this configuration enables the exploitation vector through manipulated serialized data within the _data cookie parameter. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, particularly in the language selection component of the application's profile handling mechanism.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic directory traversal attack pattern where malicious actors can manipulate the lang parameter within serialized cookie data to navigate outside the intended directory structure. When the application processes the serialized _data cookie containing crafted .. (dot dot) sequences in the lang field, it fails to properly validate or sanitize these path traversal sequences. This allows the application to interpret and process these malicious path components, potentially leading to the inclusion and execution of arbitrary local files from the server filesystem. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-3486 extends beyond simple file inclusion, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially gaining shell access or escalating privileges to the level of the web application user. The implications include unauthorized data access, potential data corruption, service disruption, and the possibility of establishing persistent backdoors within the affected infrastructure. Organizations running vulnerable versions of Coppermine Photo Gallery face significant risk of unauthorized access to their photo galleries and underlying server resources, particularly when the application is deployed in shared hosting environments or enterprise networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Coppermine Photo Gallery, as the vulnerability was resolved in later releases through proper input validation and sanitization of serialized cookie data. Organizations should also implement comprehensive cookie security measures including secure flag settings,HttpOnly flags, and proper session management protocols. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious cookie data patterns, conducting regular security audits of application code, and establishing proper input validation at all entry points. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1505.003 for untrusted input handling, emphasizing the critical need for robust application security controls to prevent such path traversal attacks from compromising system integrity.