CVE-2008-2449 in phpInstantGallery
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Isaac McGowan phpInstantGallery 2.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) gallery parameter to (a) index.php and (b) image.php, and the (2) imgnum parameter to image.php. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2025
The CVE-2008-2449 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in phpInstantGallery version 2.0, a web-based image gallery application developed by Isaac McGowan. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts are injected into otherwise trusted websites. The flaw exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the gallery's parameter handling system, creating exploitable entry points for remote attackers seeking to execute malicious code in the context of victim browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct attack vectors that exploit the application's handling of user-supplied parameters. The first vector targets the gallery parameter in both index.php and image.php scripts, while the second vector exploits the imgnum parameter specifically within image.php. These parameters receive user input without proper sanitization or encoding, allowing attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code directly into the application's response. When legitimate users browse the affected gallery pages, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to manipulate the entire gallery interface and potentially compromise user sessions. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means attackers do not require physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. The attack surface is broad since the vulnerability affects core gallery functionality, potentially allowing attackers to modify gallery content, inject phishing pages, or redirect users to malicious domains. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) and T1531 (Account Access Removal) through the potential for session manipulation and unauthorized access to gallery administrative functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2449 must address the fundamental input validation weaknesses in the phpInstantGallery application. Immediate remediation involves implementing proper parameter sanitization and output encoding for all user-supplied inputs, particularly the gallery and imgnum parameters. The application should employ context-specific encoding mechanisms such as HTML entity encoding for output displayed in web contexts, and implement proper input validation using allowlists of acceptable characters and values. Additionally, the application should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Security practitioners should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious parameter values, while regular security audits should verify that all input parameters are properly sanitized before processing. Organizations using this gallery software should also consider upgrading to patched versions or migrating to more secure gallery solutions that implement proper security controls against XSS attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding as fundamental security measures that should be implemented at every layer of web application development to prevent such persistent and exploitable flaws.