CVE-2015-2035 in Piwigo
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the administrative backend in Piwigo before 2.7.4 allows remote adminsitrators to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the user parameter in the history page to admin.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2022
The CVE-2015-2035 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in the Piwigo photo gallery software prior to version 2.7.4. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative backend component of the application, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary SQL commands. The flaw manifests through the user parameter within the history page of the admin.php interface, making it accessible to remote administrators who possess valid administrative credentials. The vulnerability's classification as a SQL injection attack aligns with CWE-89, which defines the weakness as the failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into SQL queries, thereby allowing attackers to manipulate database operations through malicious input.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to have administrative access to the Piwigo system, which significantly reduces the attack surface compared to vulnerabilities requiring authentication bypass. However, the impact remains severe as administrative privileges already provide extensive control over the application's functionality and data. When an attacker crafts malicious input through the user parameter in the admin.php history page, the application fails to properly validate or escape the input before incorporating it into database queries. This allows for the injection of additional SQL commands that can manipulate, retrieve, or destroy database information. The vulnerability's location within the administrative backend makes it particularly dangerous as it can potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive user data, or even compromise the entire database system.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2035 extends beyond simple data theft or manipulation, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code within the database context. This can lead to complete system compromise, unauthorized data access, and potential persistence mechanisms within the application. The vulnerability affects organizations using Piwigo photo gallery systems, particularly those with multiple administrative users or systems where administrative credentials may be compromised. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive user information, modify user permissions, or even inject malicious code into the database. The presence of this vulnerability in versions prior to 2.7.4 indicates that it was a significant security flaw that required immediate patching, as it essentially provided a backdoor for authenticated attackers to gain deeper access to the underlying database infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Piwigo version 2.7.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the SQL injection flaw. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries within the application code would provide defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit administrative access to only necessary personnel, reducing the potential impact of credential compromise. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative activities, particularly those involving database operations or history page access. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and the principle of least privilege in web application security, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security audits to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their infrastructure.