CVE-2008-6348 in Photo Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in DevelopItEasy Photo Gallery 1.2 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) cat_id parameter to gallery_category.php, (2) photo_id parameter to gallery_photo.php, and the (3) user_name and (4) user_pass parameters to admin/index.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The CVE-2008-6348 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in DevelopItEasy Photo Gallery version 1.2 that exposes multiple SQL injection attack vectors across different application components. This vulnerability type falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. The flaw manifests in three distinct locations within the photo gallery system, creating multiple pathways for malicious actors to exploit the underlying database interface. The vulnerability's severity stems from the fact that it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands without authentication, potentially leading to complete database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive user information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through improper input validation and sanitization within the application's parameter handling mechanisms. Attackers can manipulate the cat_id parameter in gallery_category.php to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed against the backend database. Similarly, the photo_id parameter in gallery_photo.php presents the same risk, while the admin/index.php file contains vulnerabilities in both user_name and user_pass parameters that allow attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms. These injection points occur because the application fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into database queries, creating a direct pathway for SQL command injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including data manipulation, unauthorized access to administrative functions, and potential system compromise. An attacker could extract all user credentials, modify or delete photo gallery content, and potentially escalate privileges to gain full administrative control over the application. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit these flaws. This makes the attack surface particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from anywhere on the internet, potentially affecting any organization running the vulnerable version of the photo gallery software.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-6348 should focus on immediate input validation and parameter sanitization measures that align with industry best practices. Organizations should implement proper parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection attacks, ensuring that user input is properly escaped before database processing. The recommended approach follows ATT&CK framework tactic TA0006 (Credential Access) and technique T1110 (Brute Force) by addressing the root cause of unauthorized access through proper input validation. System administrators should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, while conducting thorough code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Additionally, the affected software should be immediately updated to a patched version or replaced with a more secure alternative, as the vulnerability affects core authentication and data handling functions that are fundamental to the application's security posture.