CVE-2022-1281: 10web Photo Gallery SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2022-1281 Overview

CVE-2022-1281 is a SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the Photo Gallery WordPress plugin by 10web through version 1.6.3. The vulnerability exists due to improper sanitization of the $_POST['filter_tag'] parameter, which is directly appended to an SQL query without proper escaping. This allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the WordPress database, potentially leading to complete site compromise.

Critical Impact

This SQL Injection vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or potentially gain administrative access to affected WordPress installations.

Affected Products

• 10web Photo Gallery plugin for WordPress versions through 1.6.3
• WordPress installations running vulnerable versions of the Photo Gallery plugin
• Any website utilizing the Photo Gallery plugin's gallery box functionality

Discovery Timeline

• 2022-05-02 - CVE-2022-1281 published to NVD
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-1281

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) resides in the BWGModelGalleryBox.php file within the Photo Gallery plugin's frontend models directory. The flaw occurs when user-supplied input through the filter_tag POST parameter is incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterized queries.

WordPress plugins that fail to properly escape user input before constructing SQL queries create significant security risks. In this case, the vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate database queries through the publicly accessible gallery functionality, requiring no authentication or special privileges to exploit.

The attack can be executed remotely over the network with low complexity, and successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to the entire WordPress database, including user credentials, content, and configuration data.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input validation and failure to use WordPress's built-in database escaping functions or prepared statements. The $_POST['filter_tag'] parameter is directly concatenated into an SQL query string, allowing malicious SQL syntax to be injected and executed by the database server.

Attack Vector

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP POST request to a WordPress site running a vulnerable version of the Photo Gallery plugin. The malicious payload is inserted into the filter_tag parameter, which gets executed as part of the SQL query. Since no authentication is required, any remote attacker can target vulnerable installations.

The attack involves manipulating the filter_tag POST parameter to inject SQL commands. The vulnerable code path exists in the gallery box model where tag filtering functionality directly incorporates user input into database queries. Attackers can leverage standard SQL injection techniques such as UNION-based extraction, time-based blind injection, or error-based injection depending on the server configuration.

For technical details on the vulnerability and its remediation, see the WPScan Vulnerability Report and the WordPress Plugin Changeset.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-1281

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL error messages in web server logs containing references to filter_tag parameter
• Suspicious POST requests to gallery-related WordPress endpoints with malformed or encoded SQL syntax
• Database query logs showing unexpected UNION, SELECT, or other SQL keywords in tag filter contexts
• Evidence of data exfiltration or unauthorized database access attempts

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect SQL injection patterns in POST parameters
• Monitor web server access logs for anomalous requests targeting Photo Gallery plugin endpoints
• Deploy intrusion detection signatures for common SQL injection payloads in HTTP POST data
• Utilize WordPress security plugins that can detect and block SQL injection attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging on web servers and WordPress installations to capture POST parameter values
• Configure database query logging to identify suspicious query patterns
• Set up alerts for failed database queries that may indicate injection attempts
• Regularly audit WordPress plugin versions against known vulnerability databases

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-1281

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the 10web Photo Gallery plugin to a version newer than 1.6.3 immediately
• Review database access logs for signs of exploitation
• Consider temporarily disabling the Photo Gallery plugin until patching is complete
• Implement WAF rules to block SQL injection attempts as a defense-in-depth measure

Patch Information

The vulnerability has been addressed by 10web in subsequent releases of the Photo Gallery plugin. The fix involves properly escaping the filter_tag parameter before use in SQL queries. The specific code changes can be reviewed in the WordPress Plugin Changeset.

Administrators should update the Photo Gallery plugin through the WordPress admin dashboard or manually download the latest version from the WordPress plugin repository.

Workarounds

• Deploy a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection protection rules enabled
• Implement server-level input filtering to sanitize POST parameters containing SQL metacharacters
• Restrict access to gallery functionality using .htaccess rules or WordPress access control plugins until patching is possible
• Consider using WordPress's built-in maintenance mode to temporarily disable the site if immediate patching is not feasible

# Example .htaccess rule to block suspicious SQL injection patterns
# Add to WordPress root .htaccess file as temporary mitigation
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\%27)|(\')|(\-\-)|(\%23)|(#) [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (union.*select) [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (select.*from) [NC]
RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
</IfModule>