CVE-2005-4252 in mcGallery PRO
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in mcGallery PRO 2.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified search module parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2017
The CVE-2005-4252 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in mcGallery PRO version 2.2 and earlier, exposing web applications to persistent malicious script injection attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the search module functionality within the gallery application, creating an exploitable entry point where attackers can manipulate input parameters to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content in the context of other users' browsers. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the application's search functionality, allowing malicious actors to craft specially crafted requests that bypass security controls designed to prevent such attacks. The vulnerability's classification as a server-side injection point means that user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web responses without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard XSS attack patterns where attackers can inject malicious payloads through search parameters that are then rendered back to unsuspecting users. This creates a persistent threat vector where the injected scripts execute within the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged to perform more sophisticated attacks such as cookie theft, defacement of web pages, or even privilege escalation within the application's context. The flaw demonstrates poor input sanitization practices and highlights the critical importance of implementing proper output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious content from being executed in user contexts.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on mcGallery PRO for content management or media hosting services. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur without requiring local access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that handle sensitive user data or serve as public-facing interfaces. The vulnerability's presence in the search module suggests that any user interaction with the gallery's search functionality could potentially be exploited, creating a wide attack surface that could affect numerous users simultaneously. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a common weakness in web application security that has been documented extensively in the security community. The attack vector can be executed through various methods including direct URL manipulation, form submissions, or even through social engineering techniques that encourage users to click on malicious links.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding across all user-supplied data, particularly within search parameters and other dynamic content generation points. The recommended approach involves implementing proper HTML escaping and sanitization techniques to ensure that any user input is properly encoded before being rendered in web pages. Security measures should include regular input validation that rejects potentially malicious content, implementation of Content Security Policies to limit script execution, and comprehensive code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Additionally, organizations should consider deploying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests, while also ensuring that all software components are updated to the latest available versions that contain the necessary security patches. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the critical need for comprehensive security testing, including both automated scanning and manual penetration testing approaches to identify and remediate such flaws before they can be exploited in real-world scenarios.