CVE-2004-2245 in Goollery
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Goollery 0.03 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or web script via the (1) page parameter to viewalbum.php or (2) btopage parameter to viewpic.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-2245 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Goollery 0.03 photo gallery application, demonstrating a critical security weakness that has persisted as a fundamental web application vulnerability pattern. This vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's handling of user-supplied parameters, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can inject arbitrary HTML or script code into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw specifically manifests in two distinct attack vectors that target different script execution points within the application's functionality, highlighting the complexity of XSS vulnerabilities that can exist across multiple entry points in web applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize or encode user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. When users navigate to the viewalbum.php script and provide a page parameter, or when they access viewpic.php with a btopage parameter, the application directly incorporates these values into the HTML response without adequate security measures. This lack of input validation creates an environment where an attacker can craft malicious payloads that, when executed, can perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and aligns with the broader category of injection vulnerabilities that compromise web application security. The attack pattern follows the typical XSS methodology where malicious code is injected into web pages viewed by other users, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or disruption, as it represents a significant threat to user privacy and application integrity within the Goollery photo gallery environment. Users who view compromised album or picture pages become unwitting participants in the execution of malicious scripts, potentially leading to unauthorized access to their accounts, data exfiltration, or compromise of their browsing sessions. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it without requiring physical access to the system or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous in public or shared hosting environments. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides a straightforward path to executing arbitrary code within user contexts, which can be leveraged to escalate privileges or establish persistent access. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that photo gallery applications often contain personal or sensitive content, making the potential for abuse more significant than in generic web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2245 must address the root cause through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves implementing strict sanitization of all user-supplied input parameters before they are processed or rendered in web responses, utilizing established encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding for output contexts. Additionally, developers should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and prevent unauthorized code injection. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to established security frameworks like the OWASP Top Ten, which consistently ranks XSS among the most critical web application security risks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while ensuring regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The remediation process requires comprehensive testing to ensure that all input parameters are properly validated and that output encoding is consistently applied across all dynamic content generation points within the application's architecture.