CVE-2008-5811 in Com Paxgallery
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the PaxGallery (com_paxgallery) component 0.1 for Joomla! allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the gid parameter in a table action to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2024
The CVE-2008-5811 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the PaxGallery component version 0.1 for Joomla! platforms. This vulnerability specifically targets the gid parameter within table actions processed by the index.php endpoint, creating a significant security risk for affected systems. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate database queries through crafted input, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information and system resources.
This vulnerability operates as a classic sql injection attack vector where the gid parameter lacks proper input validation and sanitization. When users interact with the gallery component through table actions, the parameter value gets directly incorporated into sql query construction without adequate escaping or parameterization. The attack exploits the component's failure to implement proper input filtering mechanisms, enabling malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands that execute within the database context. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of sql injection, which is consistently ranked among the top security risks in the OWASP top ten.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise and potential system takeover. Attackers can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive user credentials, personal information, and system configuration details stored within the database. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for web applications running vulnerable versions of Joomla! with the PaxGallery component installed.
Security professionals should immediately assess their Joomla developers, implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries, and conducting comprehensive security audits of all third-party components. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping content management systems and their components updated, as the patch for this specific issue was released shortly after the vulnerability disclosure, aligning with standard incident response procedures outlined in the NIST cybersecurity framework and ISO 27001 standards for information security management.