CVE-2016-10889 in nextgen-gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The nextgen-gallery plugin before 2.1.57 for WordPress has SQL injection via a gallery name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10889 affects the nextgen-gallery plugin for WordPress, specifically versions prior to 2.1.57, and represents a critical SQL injection flaw that directly impacts the plugin's gallery name parameter processing. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization or parameterization. The flaw manifests when the plugin fails to adequately validate or escape user input provided through the gallery name field, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the database query execution flow.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the plugin's database interaction layer where the gallery name parameter is directly concatenated into SQL queries without appropriate input filtering mechanisms. When an attacker submits a specially crafted gallery name containing SQL payload characters such as single quotes, semicolons, or union select statements, the plugin processes this input directly into database queries, bypassing standard security controls. This allows attackers to execute unauthorized database operations including data retrieval, modification, or deletion, potentially leading to complete database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within the WordPress installation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges within the WordPress environment and potentially gain full administrative control. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract user credentials, modify content, inject malicious code into the website, or even establish persistent backdoors within the system. The vulnerability affects not only the gallery functionality but also compromises the overall integrity and confidentiality of the WordPress site, particularly in environments where the nextgen-gallery plugin is extensively used for media management and content presentation. Given that WordPress is one of the most widely deployed content management systems, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to numerous websites and organizations that rely on the platform for their digital presence.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the nextgen-gallery plugin to version 2.1.57 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and parameterized query implementations. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits of installed plugins, implementation of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts, and comprehensive monitoring of database activities for suspicious queries. Organizations should follow ATT&CK framework guidance for defensive measures against SQL injection attacks, particularly focusing on techniques such as input validation, query parameterization, and database access controls. Furthermore, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring database accounts used by WordPress have minimal required permissions, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire web application stack.