CVE-2012-5347 in TinyWebGallery
Summary
by MITRE
TinyWebGallery 1.8.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via shell metacharacters in the command parameter to (1) inc/filefunctions.inc or (2) info.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2025
CVE-2012-5347 represents a critical remote code execution vulnerability affecting TinyWebGallery version 1.8.3, which falls under the category of command injection flaws as classified by CWE-77. This vulnerability exists in the web application's handling of user input within two specific files: inc/filefunctions.inc and info.php. The flaw arises when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the command parameter, allowing malicious actors to inject shell metacharacters that get executed within the context of the web server. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the target system, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the command parameter in the affected PHP scripts. When an attacker submits malicious input containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks, the application processes these inputs without proper validation, resulting in unintended command execution. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution flaw because no local access or authentication is required to exploit it, making it highly attractive to attackers. This weakness directly violates the principle of input validation and demonstrates poor secure coding practices in handling user-supplied data.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5347 is severe and multifaceted, potentially allowing attackers to gain full control over the affected web server. Successful exploitation could lead to data theft, system compromise, service disruption, and further lateral movement within the network. Attackers could use the executed commands to install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive information, or establish persistent access to the compromised system. The vulnerability affects organizations using TinyWebGallery 1.8.3, which represents a significant portion of web applications vulnerable to command injection attacks. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the execution of system commands through web interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the TinyWebGallery application to the latest version that addresses this command injection flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures, particularly for parameters that are passed to system commands or shell functions. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by running web applications with minimal required permissions and by implementing proper output encoding for all user-supplied data. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense, while regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads targeting command injection vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding as recommended by OWASP Top Ten and other security frameworks, emphasizing that command injection flaws require immediate remediation to prevent exploitation.