Art Gallery Management System

Oct 13, 2025 by vinooalluri.com 85 views

Introduction

The Phpgurukul Art Gallery Management System V1.0 is a web-based application designed to manage art galleries. However, a critical SQL injection vulnerability has been discovered in the /admin/contactus.php file, which can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to databases, modify or delete data, and access sensitive information.

Affected Product

Art Gallery Management System
Vendor Homepage: https://phpgurukul.com/art-gallery-management-system-using-php-and-mysql/
Software Link: https://phpgurukul.com/?sdm_process_download=1&download_id=17705

Vulnerability Details

Vulnerability Type

SQL Injection

Root Cause

A SQL injection vulnerability was found in the '/admin/contactus.php' file of the 'Art Gallery Management System' project. The reason for this issue is that attackers inject malicious code from the parameter 'pagetitle‘ and use it directly in SQL queries without the need for appropriate cleaning or validation. This allows attackers to forge input values, thereby manipulating SQL queries and performing unauthorized operations.

Impact

Attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to achieve unauthorized database access, sensitive data leakage, data tampering, comprehensive system control, and even service interruption, posing a serious threat to system security and business continuity.

Description

During the security review of "Art Gallery Management System", I discovered a critical SQL injection vulnerability in the "/admin/contactus.php" file. This vulnerability stems from insufficient user input validation of the 'pagetitle' parameter, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL queries. Therefore, attackers can gain unauthorized access to databases, modify or delete data, and access sensitive information. Immediate remedial measures are needed to ensure system security and protect data integrity.

No login or authorization is required to exploit this vulnerability

Vulnerability details and POC

Vulnerability lonameion:

'pagetitle parameter

Payload:

Parameter: pagetitle (POST)
    Type: time-based blind
    Title: MySQL >= 5.0.12 AND time-based blind (query SLEEP)
    Payload: pagetitle=111' AND (SELECT 3048 FROM (SELECT(SLEEP(5)))DxdJ) AND 'QWVt'='QWVt&email=info@gmail.com&phonenum=1234567890&timing=10:30 am to 7:30 pm&pagedes=<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">111</font></font>&submit=

The following are screenshots of some specific information obtained from testing and running with the sqlmap tool:

    sqlmap -u "http://10.20.33.17/AGMS/admin/contactus.php" --data="pagetitle=111&email=info%40gmail.com&phonenum=1234567890&timing=10%3A30+am+to+7%3A30+pm&pagedes=%3Cfont+style%3D%22vertical-align%3A+inherit%3B%22%3E%3Cfont+style%3D%22vertical-align%3A+inherit%3B%22%3E111%3C%2Ffont%3E%3C%2Ffont%3E&submit=" --dbs

Suggested Repair

1. Use prepared statements and parameter binding:

Preparing statements can prevent SQL injection as they separate SQL code from user input data. When using prepare statements, the value entered by the user is treated as pure data and will not be interpreted as SQL code.

2. Input validation and filtering:

Strictly validate and filter user input data to ensure it conforms to the expected format.

3. Minimize database user permissions:

Ensure that the account used to connect to the database has the minimum necessary permissions. Avoid using accounts with advanced permissions (such as 'root' or 'admin') for daily operations.

4. Regular security audits:

Q: What is the Phpgurukul Art Gallery Management System V1.0 /admin/contactus.php SQL injection vulnerability?

A: The Phpgurukul Art Gallery Management System V1.0 /admin/contactus.php SQL injection vulnerability is a critical security flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code into the system, potentially leading to unauthorized database access, sensitive data leakage, data tampering, comprehensive system control, and even service interruption.

Q: What is the root cause of this vulnerability?

A: The root cause of this vulnerability is the insufficient user input validation of the 'pagetitle' parameter, which allows attackers to inject malicious SQL queries directly into SQL queries without the need for appropriate cleaning or validation.

Q: What are the potential impacts of this vulnerability?

A: The potential impacts of this vulnerability include:

Unauthorized database access
Sensitive data leakage
Data tampering
Comprehensive system control
Service interruption

Q: Is login or authorization required to exploit this vulnerability?

A: No, login or authorization is not required to exploit this vulnerability.

Q: What is the suggested repair for this vulnerability?

A: The suggested repair for this vulnerability includes:

Using prepared statements and parameter binding: Preparing statements can prevent SQL injection as they separate SQL code from user input data.
Input validation and filtering: Strictly validate and filter user input data to ensure it conforms to the expected format.
Minimizing database user permissions: Ensure that the account used to connect to the database has the minimum necessary permissions.
Regular security audits: Regularly conduct code and system security audits to promptly identify and fix potential security vulnerabilities.

Q: How can I protect my system from this vulnerability?

A: To protect your system from this vulnerability, follow the suggested repair steps and ensure that your system is regularly audited for potential security vulnerabilities.

Q: What are the consequences of not addressing this vulnerability?

A: The consequences of not addressing this vulnerability include:

Unauthorized database access
Sensitive data leakage
Data tampering
Comprehensive system control
Service interruption

Q: Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

A: Yes, this vulnerability can be exploited remotely.

Q: Is this vulnerability specific to the Phpgurukul Art Gallery Management System V1.0?

A: Yes, this vulnerability is specific to the Phpgurukul Art Gallery Management System V1.0.

Q: How can I report this vulnerability to the vendor?

A: You can report this vulnerability to the vendor by following their established reporting process.

Q: What is the recommended course of action for users who have already been affected by this vulnerability?

A: The recommended course of action for users who have already been affected by this vulnerability is to immediately take steps to remediate the issue and ensure that their system is secure.