CVE-2012-4926 in Img Pals Photo Host
Summary
by MITRE
approve.php in Img Pals Photo Host 1.0 does not authenticate requests, which allows remote attackers to change the activation of administrators via the u parameter in an (1) app0 (disable) or (2) app1 (enable) action.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4926 resides within the Img Pals Photo Host 1.0 web application, specifically in the approve.php script that handles administrative user activation status changes. This represents a critical authentication flaw that fundamentally undermines the security model of the application by allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to manipulate administrative privileges. The vulnerability stems from the complete absence of request authentication mechanisms within the approve.php file, creating an attack surface where any remote user can manipulate the system's administrative state without proper authorization. The flaw specifically targets the u parameter which serves as the identifier for the user whose activation status is being modified, enabling attackers to switch between app0 and app1 actions to disable or enable administrator accounts respectively.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and access control measures that aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control vulnerabilities. The absence of authentication checks means that the application fails to verify the identity and authorization level of users attempting to perform administrative actions. This flaw operates at the application logic level where the approve.php script directly processes user input without implementing any form of session validation, token verification, or administrative privilege checks. Attackers can exploit this by simply constructing malicious HTTP requests that include the u parameter with either app0 or app1 values, thereby bypassing all security controls designed to prevent unauthorized modification of administrator accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially devastating for any organization utilizing Img Pals Photo Host 1.0. Remote attackers can gain unauthorized control over administrative functions, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data theft, or service disruption. The ability to disable administrator accounts creates a denial of service scenario where legitimate administrators lose access to their accounts, while the capability to enable accounts allows attackers to create new administrative privileges. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage the application's lack of authentication to assume administrative roles. The impact extends beyond immediate access control violations to encompass potential data integrity compromises and system availability issues that could affect business operations and customer trust.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4926 must address the fundamental authentication failure within the application. Organizations should implement comprehensive access control mechanisms including session management, token-based authentication, and proper privilege verification before allowing any administrative actions to be processed. The most effective remediation involves adding robust authentication checks to the approve.php script, ensuring that all requests containing the u parameter are validated against authenticated administrative sessions. Additionally, implementing input sanitization and parameter validation can prevent exploitation of the specific parameter manipulation vector. Organizations should also consider implementing rate limiting and monitoring for suspicious administrative activity patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper authentication frameworks as outlined in industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar authentication gaps in other application components.