CVE-2008-5641 in Active Photo Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in account.asp in Active Photo Gallery 6.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) username and (2) password parameters.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2024
The CVE-2008-5641 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in Active Photo Gallery version 6.2's account.asp component that exposes the application to remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanism where user credentials are processed through the username and password parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database queries and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the web application's authentication flow, allowing attackers to inject malicious sql code that bypasses normal authentication procedures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic sql injection pattern where the application directly incorporates user-supplied input into sql queries without proper parameterization or escaping mechanisms. When attackers submit specially crafted payloads through the username and password fields, the application processes these inputs directly into database queries, enabling the execution of arbitrary sql commands. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection as a fundamental weakness in data validation and query construction. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates at the database layer, potentially allowing attackers to extract sensitive information, modify database records, or even escalate privileges within the application environment.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations using Active Photo Gallery 6.2 as it allows remote attackers to execute commands without requiring legitimate credentials. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized modification of the photo gallery content. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to enumerate database structures, extract user accounts, modify or delete photo gallery content, and potentially establish persistent access points within the affected system. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes exploitation of remote services through injection attacks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks. The recommended approach involves implementing proper input sanitization, using prepared statements with parameterized queries, and applying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious sql injection attempts. Additionally, regular security updates and patches should be deployed to address known vulnerabilities in third-party applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to security standards such as those outlined in the owasp top ten project, specifically addressing injection flaws that remain among the most prevalent security risks in web applications. System administrators should also conduct thorough security assessments of all web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of their infrastructure.