CVE-2008-1228 in MG2
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin.php in MG2 (formerly Minigal) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the list parameter in an import action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1228 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within MG2, formerly known as Minigal, a web-based gallery management system. This vulnerability specifically affects the admin.php script and manifests during import operations when processing user-supplied input through the list parameter. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers, creating a significant security risk for administrators and gallery visitors who may be exposed to malicious payloads.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the MG2 application's administrative interface. When the import action processes the list parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-provided data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. This lack of proper input filtering creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious scripts that will execute whenever the affected page is rendered. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, where the application fails to properly validate or escape user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be leveraged to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. Attackers can craft specially formatted list parameters that, when processed by the vulnerable admin.php script, will execute scripts in the context of authenticated administrators. This creates a pathway for privilege escalation attacks where attackers can gain administrative control over the gallery system. The vulnerability particularly affects systems where administrators regularly perform import operations, as this is the specific action that triggers the XSS condition.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The most immediate solution involves input validation and output encoding, where all user-supplied data passed to the list parameter must be properly sanitized before processing. Implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide additional protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed within the gallery's administrative interface. Regular security audits of web applications should include thorough testing of all input parameters, particularly those used in administrative functions. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping web applications updated, as this issue was likely addressed in subsequent versions of MG2 through proper input validation mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit similar XSS vulnerabilities in their systems.