CVE-2015-2065 in Wordpress Video Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in videogalleryrss.php in the Apptha WordPress Video Gallery (contus-video-gallery) plugin before 2.8 for WordPress allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the vid parameter in a rss action to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2024
The CVE-2015-2065 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in the Apptha WordPress Video Gallery plugin, specifically affecting versions prior to 28. This vulnerability exists within the videogalleryrss.php file and manifests when the plugin processes the vid parameter through the rss action endpoint in wp-admin/admin-ajax.php. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious SQL commands directly into the database query execution process, potentially compromising the entire WordPress installation and underlying database infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the plugin's handling of user-supplied data. When the vid parameter is passed through the rss action, the plugin fails to properly escape or filter the input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows attackers to manipulate the database query structure by injecting malicious SQL syntax that can alter, retrieve, or delete data from the WordPress database. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is directly included in SQL command construction without proper sanitization.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress site administrators and users. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary SQL commands, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data including user credentials, personal information, and administrative privileges. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the server or prior authentication. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential complete system compromise, as attackers may be able to escalate privileges, install backdoors, or modify core WordPress functionality. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1190 for exploitation of remote services, making it particularly dangerous in automated attack scenarios.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise and can be automated through various attack frameworks, making it a prime target for mass exploitation campaigns. WordPress sites running vulnerable versions of the Apptha Video Gallery plugin become immediately susceptible to this attack vector, with no additional authentication or access requirements. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that many WordPress installations may not have proper input validation layers in place, and the vulnerability affects a widely used plugin with numerous installations across the internet. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of how third-party plugins can introduce critical security gaps into otherwise secure WordPress environments, emphasizing the importance of regular plugin updates and security audits. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for proper parameterized queries and input validation in all database interactions, as well as the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions to prevent exploitation of known security flaws.