CVE-2015-6522 in WP Symposium
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the WP Symposium plugin before 15.8 for WordPress allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the size parameter to get_album_item.php.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2025
The CVE-2015-6522 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the WP Symposium plugin for WordPress, affecting versions prior to 15.8. This vulnerability resides in the get_album_item.php script and demonstrates a classic input validation failure that enables remote code execution through maliciously crafted SQL commands. The flaw specifically exploits the size parameter which is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into database queries, creating an avenue for attackers to manipulate the underlying database operations.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code into database queries. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it operates through a remote access model, meaning an attacker does not require local system access or authentication to exploit the vulnerability. The size parameter in get_album_item.php serves as the primary injection point, where user-supplied input is directly concatenated into SQL statements without proper escaping or parameterization techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise, unauthorized data modification, and potential system takeover. Attackers can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and administrative access details. The vulnerability's remote nature means that any user with access to the affected WordPress site can potentially exploit this weakness, making it particularly dangerous for public-facing websites. Additionally, the exploitation can result in data integrity violations, unauthorized content modification, and in severe cases, complete system compromise through database-level attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6522 should prioritize immediate patching of the WP Symposium plugin to version 15.8 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization and parameterization fixes. Organizations should implement proper input validation mechanisms that filter and sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, particularly focusing on database query parameters. The implementation of prepared statements and parameterized queries serves as a fundamental defense against SQL injection attacks by separating SQL code from data. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense, while regular security audits and penetration testing help identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the WordPress ecosystem. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1046 for network service discovery, emphasizing the multi-faceted nature of the threat landscape.