CVE-2008-7186 in Photo Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
Coppermine Photo Gallery (CPG) 1.4.14 does not restrict access to update.php, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information such as the database table prefix via a direct request. NOTE: this might be leveraged for attacks against CVE-2008-0504.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-7186 affects Coppermine Photo Gallery version 1.4.14, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of the application. This issue stems from the improper restriction of access to the update.php script, which serves as a critical component for system maintenance and configuration updates. The vulnerability creates an unintended information disclosure channel that exposes sensitive database configuration details to unauthorized remote actors.
The technical flaw manifests through the absence of proper authentication and authorization mechanisms within the update.php file. When attackers can directly access this script without proper verification, they gain the ability to extract database table prefixes and other sensitive configuration information. This exposure occurs because the application fails to implement adequate access controls that would normally require administrative credentials or specific authorization tokens before allowing access to sensitive system files. The database table prefix information is particularly valuable as it reveals the structure of the underlying database schema, enabling attackers to better understand the application's data organization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability can be leveraged to facilitate exploitation of CVE-2008-0504, indicating a potential chain of attacks where the information disclosure serves as a prerequisite for additional exploitation vectors. This interconnected nature of vulnerabilities demonstrates how seemingly minor access control flaws can create cascading security risks within web applications. The exposure of database table prefixes enables attackers to craft more targeted database queries and potentially exploit other vulnerabilities that might be present in the application's database interaction code.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software applications, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1083 for discovering system information. This classification reflects how the vulnerability enables attackers to gather intelligence about the target system's configuration and structure. The lack of proper access restrictions in update.php represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture, where sensitive administrative scripts are accessible to any remote user without authentication requirements. Organizations running affected versions of Coppermine Photo Gallery face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data compromise, as the vulnerability allows for systematic reconnaissance of the application's internal structure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of access control restrictions on the update.php script. Administrators should ensure that all administrative scripts are protected through proper authentication mechanisms, including requiring valid user credentials and implementing role-based access controls. The recommended approach involves configuring web server access controls or implementing application-level authentication checks before allowing access to sensitive update scripts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-level restrictions that limit access to administrative endpoints to trusted IP addresses only, while also ensuring that all administrative functions require proper session management and authentication tokens. Regular security audits should verify that no other administrative scripts in the application exhibit similar access control vulnerabilities, as this represents a systemic issue that may affect multiple components of the software.