CVE-2008-2207 in Maian Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin/index.php in Maian Gallery 2.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the keywords parameter in a search action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/16/2017
The CVE-2008-2207 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Maian Gallery 2.0 content management system that exposes administrators to significant security risks. This vulnerability specifically targets the admin/index.php file and occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input during search operations, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the administrative interface. The vulnerability manifests when attackers manipulate the keywords parameter in search actions, allowing them to inject malicious payloads that persist within the application's administrative environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Maian Gallery 2.0 application. When administrators navigate to the search functionality and process user-supplied keywords without proper sanitization, the system renders these inputs directly into the HTML response without appropriate escaping or encoding. This flaw directly maps to CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, specifically addressing the failure to properly encode data before rendering it in web contexts. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user input transitions into the application's response, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-2207 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to compromise administrative sessions and potentially gain full control over the gallery system. Once an attacker successfully injects malicious scripts through the keywords parameter, they can execute various attack vectors including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and unauthorized modifications to the gallery content. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it targets the administrative interface, meaning successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, unauthorized content modification, and potential lateral movement within the network. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, manipulate gallery configurations, and access sensitive administrative functions that would otherwise be restricted to legitimate users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices throughout the Maian Gallery 2.0 application. The most effective remediation involves implementing comprehensive parameter validation that filters or escapes special characters before processing user input, particularly within the search functionality of the administrative interface. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts, while also implementing proper output encoding mechanisms that prevent malicious code from executing when rendered in the browser. Security practitioners should also consider implementing content security policies to limit script execution capabilities within the application environment. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection, and represents a critical weakness that requires immediate attention to prevent unauthorized access to administrative systems and potential data breaches. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input validation flaws that may exist within the application's codebase, particularly in areas where user input is processed and displayed without proper sanitization measures.