CVE-2017-1002014
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to perform blind SQL injection attacks through the gallery_name parameter in the image-gallery-with-slideshow WordPress plugin. Attackers can potentially extract sensitive database information, modify data, or execute administrative operations. All WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin version are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- WordPress image-gallery-with-slideshow plugin
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete database compromise leading to data theft, privilege escalation, site defacement, or remote code execution via database functions.
Likely Case
Extraction of sensitive WordPress data including user credentials, plugin settings, and potentially other database contents.
If Mitigated
Limited impact due to proper input validation, database user privilege restrictions, and web application firewall rules.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires access to admin interface. SQL injection is blind but can be automated with tools like sqlmap.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: v1.5.3 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/image-gallery-with-slideshow/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Image Gallery with Slideshow'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. Alternatively, delete and reinstall latest version from WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable plugin
allTemporarily disable the plugin until patched version is available
wp plugin deactivate image-gallery-with-slideshow
Web Application Firewall rule
allBlock SQL injection patterns targeting gallery_name parameter
ModSecurity rule: SecRule ARGS:gallery_name "@detectSQLi" "id:1002014,phase:2,deny,status:403"
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove plugin entirely and use alternative gallery solution
- Implement strict input validation and parameterized queries in custom code
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins for image-gallery-with-slideshow version 1.5.2 or earlierCheck Version:
wp plugin get image-gallery-with-slideshow --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 1.5.3 or later in WordPress admin panel📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual SQL queries in database logs
- Multiple failed login attempts to admin panel
- Requests to admin_setting.php with suspicious gallery_name parameters
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests to */wp-admin/admin_setting.php with SQL injection patterns in parameters
SIEM Query:
source="web_logs" AND uri="*admin_setting.php*" AND (gallery_name="*' OR*" OR gallery_name="*UNION*" OR gallery_name="*SELECT*" OR gallery_name="*--*" OR gallery_name="*/*")