CVE-2008-4338 in Brilliant Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the brilliant_gallery_checklist_save function in the bgchecklist/save script in Brilliant Gallery 5.x and 6.x, a module for Drupal, allows remote authenticated users with "access brilliant_gallery" permissions to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) nid, (2) qid, (3) state, and possibly (4) user parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2017
The CVE-2008-4338 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the brilliant_gallery module for Drupal platforms version 5.x and 6.x. This vulnerability specifically targets the brilliant_gallery_checklist_save function located in the bgchecklist/save script, exposing a significant security weakness that can be exploited by authenticated attackers. The vulnerability affects users who possess the "access brilliant_gallery" permission level, which is a relatively low barrier to entry for exploitation since it only requires basic access to the gallery module rather than administrative privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the brilliant_gallery_checklist_save function where user-supplied parameters are directly incorporated into sql queries without adequate sanitization or parameterization. The vulnerable parameters include nid (node id), qid (question id), state, and potentially user, all of which are processed through the bgchecklist/save endpoint. When these parameters are manipulated by an authenticated user, the sql injection occurs because the application fails to properly escape or validate the input before incorporating it into database queries. This flaw aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is used in sql commands without proper validation or sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database. This capability enables attackers to perform unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion operations, potentially leading to complete database compromise. The vulnerability can be exploited to extract sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, or configuration details stored within the database. Additionally, attackers could manipulate the gallery content, modify user permissions, or even escalate their privileges within the system, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability for any production environment running affected Drupal versions.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 Valid Accounts for initial access and T1046 Network Service Scanning for reconnaissance activities. The attack chain typically begins with an authenticated user leveraging their legitimate access to the gallery module, then exploiting the sql injection to gain deeper database access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the official security patches released by the Drupal project, implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries, and conducting thorough security assessments of all third-party modules. Additionally, network segmentation, database access controls, and monitoring for unusual sql query patterns should be implemented to reduce the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in environments where patching might be delayed.