CVE-2011-1100 in Pixelpost
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in admin/index.php in Pixelpost 1.7.3 allow remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) findfid, (2) id, (3) selectfcat, (4) selectfmon, or (5) selectftag parameter in an images action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2011-1100 represents a critical SQL injection flaw in Pixelpost version 1.7.3 that affects the administrative interface through the admin/index.php script. This vulnerability specifically targets the images action functionality and exposes five distinct parameter injection points including findfid, id, selectfcat, selectfmon, and selectftag. The flaw enables authenticated attackers to manipulate database queries through carefully crafted input parameters, potentially allowing full database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 as SQL injection, which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws in the industry.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and parameter sanitization within the Pixelpost administrative interface. When authenticated users submit requests containing malicious payloads through any of the five vulnerable parameters, the application fails to properly escape or validate these inputs before incorporating them into SQL query construction. This allows attackers to inject additional SQL commands that execute with the privileges of the web application's database user account. The authenticated nature of this vulnerability means that attackers must first obtain valid credentials to exploit the flaw, but once compromised, the impact extends far beyond simple privilege escalation to full database compromise. The vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.005 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1566.001 for credential harvesting, as it leverages legitimate administrative access to execute unauthorized database operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1100 is severe and multifaceted, potentially enabling attackers to extract sensitive user data, modify database content, create new administrative accounts, or even escalate privileges to system-level access. Depending on the database configuration and the privileges assigned to the web application's database user, attackers could gain access to user credentials, personal information, and other confidential data stored within the Pixelpost database. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to modify or delete content, potentially leading to data loss or corruption. Additionally, successful exploitation could enable attackers to establish persistent access points within the affected system, as they could create backdoor accounts or modify existing user permissions. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper parameter handling in web applications, as it represents a classic example of how insufficient sanitization can lead to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1100 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Pixelpost installation to version 1.7.4 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and parameter sanitization throughout their web applications, utilizing prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit administrative access to only authorized personnel, reducing the attack surface for authenticated vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other applications within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that combine multiple security controls to protect against various attack vectors. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to provide additional layers of protection against SQL injection attacks and other database-related threats.