CVE-2008-4803 in gallery
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Simple PHP Scripts gallery 0.1, 0.3, and 0.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the gallery parameter. 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 • 10/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4803 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw affecting the Simple PHP Scripts gallery versions 0.1, 0.3, and 0.4. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The vulnerability manifests in the index.php script where user-supplied input through the gallery parameter is not adequately sanitized or validated before being incorporated into web page output. This creates an exploitable condition where remote attackers can inject malicious web script or HTML code directly into the application's response.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the gallery parameter value. When the vulnerable application processes this parameter and includes it in the HTML response without proper encoding or filtering, the injected script executes within the context of other users' browsers who view the affected page. This cross-site scripting condition allows attackers to potentially steal session cookies, deface web pages, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple versions of the same software, indicating a persistent flaw in the input handling mechanism that was not properly addressed across different releases.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the web application's user interaction environment. Users who visit pages containing the malicious gallery parameter are automatically exposed to the attacker's code execution without their knowledge or consent. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for various malicious activities including credential harvesting, session hijacking, and data exfiltration. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions suggests that the development team failed to implement proper input validation mechanisms across their software lifecycle, creating a widespread exposure that affects users of different releases.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4803 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding practices. The most effective immediate fix involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper parameter validation and HTML encoding before incorporating it into web page content. This approach aligns with the ATT&CK framework's mitigation recommendations for web application vulnerabilities, specifically addressing the execution of malicious code through input manipulation. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input handling flaws, particularly focusing on parameters that are directly included in HTML output. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation in preventing widespread client-side attacks that can compromise entire user bases through simple parameter manipulation.