CVE-2014-4648 in Piwigo
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Piwigo before 2.6.3 has unknown impact and attack vectors, related to a "security failure."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4648 affects Piwigo versions prior to 2.6.3 and represents a security failure that was not fully disclosed in its initial description. This unspecified nature of the vulnerability suggests a critical weakness in the photo gallery software's security architecture that could potentially be exploited by malicious actors. Piwigo is a widely used open-source web application for managing and sharing digital photographs, making it a target for attackers seeking to compromise user data and system integrity. The vulnerability's classification as a "security failure" indicates a fundamental flaw in the application's security model rather than a specific coding error or configuration issue.
The technical implications of this security failure within Piwigo likely involve weaknesses in authentication mechanisms, authorization controls, or data protection measures that could allow unauthorized access to sensitive information or system resources. Given that Piwigo serves as a platform for storing and managing photographs, the vulnerability could potentially enable attackers to gain access to private photo collections, user accounts, or administrative functions. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways might exist for exploitation, making the vulnerability particularly concerning from a security perspective. This type of vulnerability could manifest as insufficient input validation, weak session management, or inadequate access controls that persist across various application components.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4648 extends beyond simple data exposure, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate photo galleries, modify user permissions, or even take control of administrative functions within the Piwigo system. Organizations relying on this software for personal or professional photo management could face significant consequences including privacy breaches, data loss, or reputational damage. The vulnerability's presence in versions prior to 2.6.3 indicates that the security failure was not adequately addressed in earlier releases, leaving users exposed to potential exploitation. This type of security failure commonly maps to CWE-1000 categories related to security architecture and design flaws, particularly those involving insufficient protection of sensitive data or inadequate access control mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate upgrade to Piwigo version 2.6.3 or later, which would contain the necessary security patches and fixes for the identified security failure. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits, monitoring for unauthorized access attempts, and ensuring proper configuration of authentication and authorization controls. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK tactics related to privilege escalation and defense evasion, suggesting that attackers might exploit this weakness to maintain persistent access or move laterally within compromised systems. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any potential exploitation that may have occurred before the patch was applied, as the unspecified nature of the vulnerability means that attack vectors could include both known and unknown methods of exploitation.