CVE-2017-15979 in Photo Sharing Social Network
Summary
by MITRE
Shareet - Photo Sharing Social Network 1.0 allows SQL Injection via the photo parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15979 affects Shareet Photo Sharing Social Network version 1.0, representing a critical security flaw that exposes the application to unauthorized data access and potential system compromise. This issue manifests through an insecure input handling mechanism within the photo parameter, which fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The vulnerability resides in the application's backend database interaction layer where raw user input directly influences database query construction without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this SQL injection vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits maliciously crafted input through the photo parameter, allowing them to manipulate the underlying database queries executed by the application. This flaw enables attackers to extract sensitive information from the database, modify existing records, or even delete entire data sets. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's photo sharing functionality where user-provided photo identifiers or metadata are processed without proper input sanitization, creating a pathway for malicious SQL commands to be executed within the database context. The attack vector demonstrates poor application security design principles and violates fundamental secure coding practices.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to both the application's integrity and the privacy of its users. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to user accounts, personal photographs, and associated metadata stored within the database. The vulnerability may also facilitate further attack escalation, as attackers could potentially extract database credentials or system information that could be leveraged for additional compromise. Organizations relying on this social networking platform face potential data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage when such vulnerabilities remain unpatched. The impact extends beyond immediate data loss to include potential legal consequences and financial penalties under data protection regulations.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability align with established best practices and industry standards including those referenced in CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws. The primary remediation approach involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to ensure that user-supplied data cannot alter the intended structure of database commands. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while also implementing comprehensive code reviews and security testing procedures. The fix requires modification of the application's database interaction logic to utilize prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate user input from SQL command structure. Additionally, implementing proper error handling mechanisms prevents information leakage that could aid attackers in understanding the database schema and structure. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack, with adherence to ATT&CK framework concepts for identifying and mitigating database-related attack patterns.