CVE-2009-4980 in Photokorn Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Photokorn Gallery 1.81 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) where[] parameter to search.php and (2) qc parameter to admin.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4980 represents a critical security flaw in Photokorn Gallery version 1.81 and earlier, exposing the application to multiple cross-site scripting attacks that can be exploited by remote threat actors. This vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors that target different components of the gallery system, creating multiple pathways for malicious code injection. The first vulnerability occurs in the search.php script where the where[] parameter fails to properly sanitize user input, while the second vulnerability exists in the admin.php script through the qc parameter, which also lacks adequate input validation mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the Photokorn Gallery application. When users submit search queries or administrative commands through the affected parameters, the application directly incorporates these inputs into its response without proper sanitization or escaping mechanisms. This fundamental flaw in the application's data handling process creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that will execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and more broadly with CWE-20 which covers input validation issues that can lead to various injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent malicious presence within the gallery environment. Remote attackers can leverage these XSS vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary scripts in victims' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The attack vectors affect both frontend search functionality and backend administrative operations, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users with minimal privileges to compromise the entire system. This vulnerability particularly impacts web applications that handle user-generated content and require robust input validation mechanisms to prevent unauthorized code execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4980 must focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices throughout the Photokorn Gallery application. The primary remediation involves sanitizing all user inputs received through the where[] parameter in search.php and the qc parameter in admin.php before processing or displaying them. Security measures should include implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content, utilizing parameterized queries where applicable, and establishing robust input validation routines that reject or sanitize potentially malicious content. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to limit script execution capabilities and deploy web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting, highlighting the necessity of proper input sanitization and output encoding to prevent code injection attacks.