CVE-2002-1901 in BBGallery
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Bodo Bauer BBGallery 1.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via image tags.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/10/2018
The CVE-2002-1901 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the BBGallery 1.0 web application developed by Bodo Bauer. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of image tags within its user interface, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts against unsuspecting users. The vulnerability specifically affects the gallery's image processing and display functionality where user-supplied image data is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered in web pages. The flaw enables attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML code through image-related parameters, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical security weakness in web applications. The technical implementation flaw occurs when the application fails to properly escape or filter user input before incorporating it into dynamic web content. In the context of BBGallery 1.0, when users upload or reference images through the gallery interface, the application does not adequately sanitize the image metadata or filenames that contain potentially malicious script code. The vulnerability operates at the presentation layer where user-generated content is rendered in web browsers, making it particularly dangerous as it can execute within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors such as session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Attackers can craft malicious image tags that, when viewed by other users, execute scripts that steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability affects all users of the BBGallery 1.0 application who view images processed through the vulnerable code path, potentially compromising user privacy and application security. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in web applications where users can upload content, as it transforms the application into a potential vector for distributing malicious code to other users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1901 should focus on input validation and output encoding techniques to prevent script execution in web contexts. The primary remediation involves implementing proper HTML escaping and sanitization of all user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, particularly when handling image-related parameters and metadata. Organizations should apply the principle of least privilege by restricting image upload capabilities and implementing strict content validation rules. Additionally, the application should employ Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, and implement proper session management controls to reduce the impact of potential session hijacking attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for Establishing Persistence and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to establish persistent malicious presence through script injection mechanisms that can be exploited across multiple user sessions.