CVE-2007-0815 in Uphotogallery
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in images_archive.asp in Uapplication Uphotogallery 1.1 allows remote authenticated administrators to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the s parameter. NOTE: the thumbnails.asp vector is already covered by CVE-2006-3023.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-0815 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Uphotogallery 1.1 web application, specifically affecting the images_archive.asp component. This issue impacts authenticated administrator users who possess the necessary privileges to access the gallery management interface. The vulnerability manifests through improper input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to adequately process user-supplied data before incorporating it into web responses. The affected parameter s serves as the primary injection vector, allowing malicious actors with administrative access to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a critical web application security weakness. This classification reflects the fundamental principle that user-controllable input should never be directly embedded into web responses without proper sanitization or encoding. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where the Uphotogallery application fails to implement appropriate output encoding or input validation controls for the s parameter. When an authenticated administrator submits malicious content through this parameter, the application processes the input without sufficient sanitization, thereby allowing the injected script to execute in the browsers of other users who view the affected gallery pages.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant security implications for organizations utilizing Uphotogallery 1.1. The requirement for authenticated administrator access somewhat limits the attack surface, but it does not eliminate the risk entirely. An attacker who gains administrative credentials through other means can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code in the browsers of other users, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further escalation of privileges. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to manipulate gallery content, redirect users to malicious sites, or extract sensitive information from authenticated sessions. The vulnerability's persistence in the application's codebase demonstrates a failure in the development team's security practices and input validation implementation.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to a newer version of Uphotogallery that addresses this specific flaw. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding before incorporating the data into web responses. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews to identify similar patterns in other components of the application that might be vulnerable to similar injection attacks. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of implementing secure coding practices and adhering to established security frameworks such as those recommended by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) and the Center for Internet Security (CIS) benchmarks.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates within the administrative interface of a gallery application, which typically contains sensitive user data and administrative functions. The fact that this vulnerability exists in a widely used gallery application demonstrates the prevalence of XSS flaws in web applications and the importance of comprehensive security testing. Organizations should implement regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities across their web applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of least privilege principles, where administrative functions should be protected through additional authentication mechanisms and access controls. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around gallery management functions that handle user-provided content. The remediation process should also involve comprehensive testing to ensure that the applied fixes do not introduce new functionality issues or break existing legitimate use cases within the application.