CVE-2008-6788 in Photo Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in MindDezign Photo Gallery 2.2, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter in an info action to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2024
The CVE-2008-6788 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the MindDezign Photo Gallery version 2.2 content management system. This vulnerability specifically targets the application's handling of user input through the id parameter in the info action of the index.php script. The flaw becomes exploitable when the php configuration setting magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, which removes the automatic escaping of special characters in GET, POST, and COOKIE data. This configuration allows malicious actors to inject crafted sql commands directly into the application's database queries without the protection that magic_quotes_gpc would normally provide.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through careful manipulation of the id parameter to inject sql payloads that can manipulate the underlying database operations. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into sql queries, creating a direct pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands. This vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into sql queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. The attack vector demonstrates a classic sql injection pattern where the application processes user-supplied identifiers without adequate input validation or escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete database compromise and potential system takeover. Attackers can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive information from the database including user credentials, personal data, and application configuration details. The vulnerability enables unauthorized modification of database content, deletion of critical records, and potentially full administrative access to the application's backend. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the mitre att&ck framework under the execution and credential access phases, where attackers can use sql injection as a means to escalate privileges and maintain persistent access to compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-6788 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks. Organizations should ensure that all user input is properly sanitized and escaped before being incorporated into database queries, or better yet, utilize prepared statements with parameterized queries that separate sql code from data. The recommended approach includes disabling magic_quotes_gpc and implementing robust input validation routines that filter out potentially malicious characters and patterns. Additionally, application developers should implement proper error handling to prevent information disclosure that could aid attackers in crafting successful payloads. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to established security frameworks that emphasize proper input validation and sql query construction to prevent such critical flaws from persisting in production environments.