CVE-2015-9446 in unite-gallery-lite Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The unite-gallery-lite plugin before 1.5 for WordPress has SQL injection via data[galleryID] to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2023
The CVE-2015-9446 vulnerability affects the unite-gallery-lite plugin version 1.4 and earlier in the WordPress ecosystem, representing a critical SQL injection flaw that compromises the underlying database security. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user-supplied input through the data[galleryID] parameter, which is processed through the wp-admin/admin-ajax.php endpoint. The issue arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the plugin's codebase, creating a direct pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the WordPress database. The vulnerability exists because the plugin fails to properly escape or filter user-provided gallery identifiers before incorporating them into database queries, allowing attackers to manipulate the SQL execution flow. This flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper parameterized queries and input sanitization practices that are fundamental to preventing SQL injection attacks in web applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing SQL payload within the data[galleryID] parameter and submits it through the WordPress admin-ajax.php interface. The plugin's flawed code directly concatenates this unsanitized input into SQL queries without proper escaping mechanisms, enabling attackers to inject malicious SQL code that executes with the privileges of the WordPress database user. This allows for complete database compromise including data extraction, modification, or deletion of sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages WordPress's legitimate AJAX handling mechanism, making the attack appear as normal administrative traffic and potentially bypassing standard security monitoring systems. The attack vector represents a common weakness in WordPress plugin development where developers fail to implement proper security controls for user input processing, creating persistent entry points for database attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-9446 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract user credentials, modify content, inject malicious code into the WordPress installation, or even establish persistent backdoors through database manipulation. The vulnerability affects not just the gallery functionality but the entire WordPress database infrastructure, potentially exposing sensitive information including user accounts, configuration settings, and other stored data. Organizations running vulnerable versions face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential regulatory compliance violations. The attack surface is particularly concerning for WordPress installations that rely heavily on gallery features or have multiple plugins that may interact with the same database, creating cascading security risks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9446 require immediate action to upgrade the unite-gallery-lite plugin to version 1.5 or later, where the SQL injection vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and parameterized query implementation. System administrators should also implement comprehensive monitoring of wp-admin/admin-ajax.php traffic to detect anomalous patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include restricting access to the WordPress admin interface through IP whitelisting, implementing web application firewalls with SQL injection detection capabilities, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date WordPress core and plugin versions, as well as the necessity of following secure coding practices such as input validation, output encoding, and proper database query construction. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts and establish incident response procedures for rapid remediation of similar vulnerabilities. This case illustrates the ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol and T1190 for exploit for defense evasion, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that protect against both known and emerging threats in WordPress environments.