CVE-2009-2933 in Piwigo
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in comments.php in Piwigo before 2.0.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the items_number parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2933 represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in the Piwigo photo gallery software version 2.0.2 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the comments.php script which is responsible for handling user comments and related functionality within the gallery system. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of the items_number parameter, which is used to control the number of items displayed in comments sections. When this parameter is manipulated by an attacker, it can be exploited to inject malicious SQL commands directly into the database query execution flow. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a serious weakness in software security architecture. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a command and control technique under the T1071.004 sub-technique for application layer protocol usage, specifically targeting web application vulnerabilities. The vulnerability exists because the application fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into database queries, creating an exploitable path for malicious actors to bypass authentication mechanisms and directly manipulate the underlying database.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a specially malformed items_number parameter value that when processed by the comments.php script, gets directly incorporated into an SQL query without proper sanitization. This allows attackers to inject SQL syntax that can manipulate the database structure, extract sensitive information, modify existing records, or even delete entire tables. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers can potentially escalate privileges, gain persistent access to the database, and use the compromised system as a foothold for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for arbitrary code execution at the database level, meaning that attackers can perform operations that are typically restricted to database administrators. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent such injection attacks. Security professionals can observe that this vulnerability aligns with the NIST SP 800-160 standard for secure software development practices, which emphasizes the need for robust input validation and output encoding to prevent injection flaws.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for any organization or individual using Piwigo versions prior to 2.0.3, as it provides attackers with direct access to the underlying database without requiring authentication. This means that unauthorized individuals can potentially access all user data, including personal information, comments, and gallery metadata. The attack surface is particularly wide because the vulnerability affects a core functionality component that is essential for user interaction with the photo gallery. Organizations using affected versions face significant risks including data breaches, privacy violations, and potential legal consequences under data protection regulations such as GDPR or CCPA. The vulnerability also demonstrates the critical importance of keeping software components updated, as the issue was resolved in version 2.0.3 through proper input validation and sanitization measures. Security teams should implement monitoring for suspicious database queries and user behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Mitigation strategies include immediate patching of the software to version 2.0.3 or later, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts, and conducting regular security audits of web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also involve re-evaluating input validation mechanisms throughout the application to ensure similar flaws do not exist in other components, following the principle of defense in depth as recommended by ISO 27001 security standards.