CVE-2024-1896 in Photo Gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/02/2024
The Photo Gallery – Responsive Photo Gallery, Image Gallery, Portfolio Gallery, Logo Gallery And Team Gallery plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to PHP Object Injection in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.1 via deserialization via shortcode of untrusted input from the 'awl_lg_settings_' attribute. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor access and above, to inject a PHP Object. No POP chain is present in the vulnerable plugin. If a POP chain is present via an additional plugin or theme installed on the target system, it could allow the attacker to delete arbitrary files, retrieve sensitive data, or execute code.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2024
The Photo Gallery plugin for WordPress represents a significant security vulnerability through its improper handling of user input during PHP object deserialization processes. This flaw exists within the plugin's shortcode implementation where the 'awl_lg_settings_' attribute accepts untrusted data without adequate sanitization or validation measures. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.4.1, creating a persistent risk for WordPress installations that utilize this gallery plugin. Attackers can exploit this weakness through authenticated sessions with contributor-level privileges or higher, making it particularly concerning given the relatively low access requirements needed to initiate the attack vector.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which categorizes insecure deserialization as a critical security flaw where untrusted data is processed through PHP's unserialize function. When an attacker crafts malicious input containing serialized PHP objects within the 'awl_lg_settings_' attribute, the plugin's shortcode processing routine inadvertently executes these objects during deserialization. This process creates a dangerous attack surface because WordPress plugins often have elevated privileges and access to system resources, particularly when operating with contributor or administrator permissions. The absence of a POP (Points of No Return) chain within this specific plugin means that while direct remote code execution is not possible through this vulnerability alone, it creates an ideal foundation for more sophisticated attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation capabilities and presents attackers with opportunities to escalate their privileges within the WordPress environment. Authenticated attackers can leverage this flaw to perform arbitrary file operations, potentially leading to complete system compromise if additional vulnerabilities exist in the broader WordPress installation. The attack scenario becomes particularly dangerous when considering that many WordPress installations include multiple plugins or themes that might contain POP chains or other exploitable components. This creates a cascading risk where the initial object injection vulnerability can serve as a stepping stone for more extensive attacks, including data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and persistent backdoor installation. The vulnerability's presence in a commonly used gallery plugin increases its exploitation potential across numerous WordPress sites.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the Photo Gallery plugin to the latest available version that addresses this deserialization vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network-level restrictions to limit access to WordPress admin interfaces and consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious deserialization patterns. Security hardening measures including input validation, output encoding, and principle of least privilege enforcement should be implemented across all WordPress installations. Additionally, regular security audits should examine plugin and theme compatibility for similar deserialization vulnerabilities, as the absence of POP chains does not guarantee complete immunity from exploitation when combined with other vulnerable components in the WordPress ecosystem. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of secure coding practices around data handling and object serialization within content management systems, particularly when dealing with user-supplied input that may be processed through potentially dangerous functions.