CVE-2014-7153 in Image Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the editgallery function in admin/gallery_func.php in the Huge-IT Image Gallery plugin 1.0.1 for WordPress allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the removeslide parameter to wp-admin/admin.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2025
The CVE-2014-7153 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Huge-IT Image Gallery WordPress plugin version 1.0.1, specifically affecting the editgallery function in the admin/gallery_func.php file. This vulnerability exploits a fundamental weakness in input validation mechanisms that allows authenticated attackers to manipulate database queries through the removeslide parameter. The flaw exists within the administrative interface of the plugin, making it particularly dangerous as it requires only valid administrative credentials to exploit, significantly reducing the attack surface compared to unauthenticated vulnerabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper sanitization of user-supplied input within the removeslide parameter handling. When administrators navigate to the gallery management section and interact with the editgallery function, the plugin fails to properly escape or validate the removeslide parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries. This oversight creates a direct pathway for attackers to inject malicious SQL code that executes with the privileges of the authenticated administrative user. The vulnerability manifests in the wp-admin/admin.php endpoint, which serves as the primary administrative interface for WordPress, making it a high-value target for exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it provides attackers with complete database access and administrative control over the affected WordPress installation. Successful exploitation enables attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands, potentially leading to data exfiltration, unauthorized user creation, plugin modification, or even complete system compromise. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not need to perform extensive reconnaissance or credential harvesting, as they can leverage existing administrative access to escalate their privileges. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to attackers who have already gained access to legitimate administrative accounts through other means.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7153 should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the SQL injection vulnerability, as well as implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures. Organizations should conduct thorough security audits of their WordPress installations to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across all installed plugins and themes. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1046 for remote services, demonstrating how this vulnerability can be leveraged for persistent access and lateral movement within compromised environments. Regular security monitoring and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to detect similar flaws in other WordPress components and ensure ongoing protection against such attacks.