CVE-2024-3129 in Image Accordion Gallery App
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2024
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Image Accordion Gallery App 1.0. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown part of the file /endpoint/add-image.php. The manipulation of the argument image_name leads to unrestricted upload. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier VDB-258873 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-3129 represents a critical security flaw in the SourceCodester Image Accordion Gallery App version 1.0, specifically within the /endpoint/add-image.php file. This weakness falls under the category of unrestricted file upload vulnerabilities, which are particularly dangerous as they allow attackers to bypass normal file validation mechanisms and upload malicious files to the target system. The vulnerability is classified as critical due to its potential for remote code execution and the ease with which it can be exploited by attackers who have access to the application's interface. The specific vector of attack involves manipulation of the image_name parameter, which when improperly validated, permits arbitrary file uploads to the server. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely without requiring any authentication or privileged access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the application's file upload endpoint. When a user submits an image through the add-image.php script, the application fails to properly validate the file type, size, or content of the uploaded file. This lack of proper validation creates a pathway for attackers to upload malicious files such as web shells, script files, or other harmful executables that can be executed on the server. The vulnerability is further exacerbated by the fact that the exploit has been publicly disclosed and is actively being used in the wild, as indicated by the VDB-258873 identifier assigned to this issue. The unrestricted nature of the upload means that attackers can potentially bypass security controls that would normally prevent execution of certain file types, leading to complete system compromise.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using the affected application. The ability to perform remote file uploads opens the door to various attack vectors including web shell deployment, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms that can be used to maintain long-term access to the compromised system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to server resources, potentially leading to full system compromise, data breaches, and additional lateral movement within network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the image gallery application, making it a prime target for exploitation. The fact that this is a publicly disclosed vulnerability means that threat actors have readily available tools and techniques to exploit the weakness, significantly increasing the risk to affected systems.
Security mitigations for CVE-2024-3129 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and file type restrictions within the application's upload functionality. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor's security patches or updates when available, as this vulnerability has been classified as critical and actively exploited. Additional protective measures include implementing strict file type validation that rejects non-image files, enforcing proper file name sanitization to prevent directory traversal attacks, and implementing content validation to ensure uploaded files are legitimate images. The application should also be configured to store uploaded files outside the web root directory and to execute files with appropriate permissions that prevent execution of potentially malicious content. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-434 which specifically addresses unrestricted upload of file with dangerous type, and can be mapped to ATT&CK techniques such as T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect suspicious file upload activities, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other application components.