CVE-2006-2397 in GPhotos
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in GPhotos 1.5 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) rep parameter to (a) index.php or (b) diapo.php or (2) image parameter to (c) affich.php. NOTE: item 1a might be resultant from directory traversal.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2397 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting GPhotos version 1.5 and earlier systems. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input parameters, specifically targeting three distinct endpoints within the software's web interface. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims. The flaw demonstrates a classic input validation failure where user-provided data is directly incorporated into web responses without proper sanitization or encoding.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves three primary attack vectors that exploit different parameter names and script files within the GPhotos application. The first vector targets the rep parameter in both index.php and diapo.php scripts, while the second vector exploits the image parameter within the affich.php script. The description notes that the first attack vector might be related to directory traversal, indicating potential complexity in the exploitation process where attackers could manipulate file paths to achieve their malicious objectives. These parameters are processed without adequate input filtering, allowing attackers to inject malicious HTML content that executes when other users view the affected pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it creates a persistent security risk for all users of the affected GPhotos installations. When exploited, these XSS vulnerabilities enable attackers to manipulate the web application's behavior and potentially access sensitive user data or perform unauthorized actions. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the photo gallery application, making it particularly dangerous as it could be used to compromise user sessions, steal cookies, or redirect users to malicious websites. Given that the vulnerability exists in versions 1.5 and earlier, it represents a significant security gap that would have been present in numerous production environments during the time of the vulnerability's discovery.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as aligning with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability match those documented in MITRE's ATT&CK framework under the web application attack categories, particularly focusing on code injection techniques. The fact that the vulnerability affects multiple endpoints within the application demonstrates a systemic issue in input handling rather than an isolated flaw, suggesting that similar vulnerabilities might exist in other parameters or scripts. Organizations utilizing GPhotos should immediately implement mitigations including parameter validation, output encoding, and input sanitization measures. The recommended approach involves implementing strict input validation for all user-supplied parameters and ensuring proper HTML encoding of dynamic content before rendering it in web responses. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and prompt patch management to address known weaknesses in legacy web applications.