CVE-2017-17583 in FS Shutterstock Clone
Summary
by MITRE
FS Shutterstock Clone 1.0 has SQL Injection via the /Category keywords parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2017-17583 represents a critical SQL injection flaw in FS Shutterstock Clone version 1.0, specifically targeting the /Category keywords parameter. This web application vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's backend processing logic. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands through the keywords parameter, potentially enabling unauthorized access to the underlying database infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or parameterize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL query structures. When users submit search queries through the Category keywords parameter, the application directly concatenates this input into database queries without adequate sanitization. This primitive approach to input handling creates an exploitable vector where attackers can manipulate the SQL execution flow by injecting malicious payload sequences such as single quotes, semicolons, or SQL comment characters.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents severe security implications for systems running the affected software version. Attackers exploiting this flaw can potentially extract sensitive data including user credentials, personal information, and business-critical database contents. The vulnerability also enables privilege escalation attacks where malicious actors might gain administrative access to the database, leading to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond data theft to include potential service disruption, data integrity corruption, and compliance violations that could result in significant financial and reputational damage.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a common weakness in web applications where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL commands. This weakness maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1005 for data from local system. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects a cloning application that likely replicates functionality of commercial platforms, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to exploit similar weaknesses across multiple implementations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and parameterized query execution to address this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves updating the application code to utilize prepared statements or parameterized queries for all database interactions. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization routines and employing web application firewalls can provide layered defense mechanisms. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The affected software should be updated to the latest version or patched according to vendor advisories to ensure complete remediation of this SQL injection vulnerability.