CVE-2012-1113 in Maian
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the administration subsystem in Gallery 2 before 2.3.2 and 3 before 3.0.3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1113 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the administration subsystem of Gallery 2 versions prior to 2.3.2 and Gallery 3 versions prior to 3.0.3. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a fundamental web application security weakness that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The affected Gallery system, a popular web-based photo management and publishing platform, exposes its administrative interface to this attack vector through unspecified input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs within the administration subsystem where unauthorized remote attackers can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code through unspecified vectors. This typically involves manipulating input fields or parameters that are processed by the Gallery application's administrative functions. The flaw allows attackers to bypass normal security controls and execute malicious code in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized administrative actions. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple entry points within the administration interface may be vulnerable, making the scope of potential exploitation broader than initially apparent.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Gallery for their photo management needs. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability enables attackers to execute persistent malicious scripts that could redirect users to phishing sites, steal authentication tokens, or modify gallery configurations. Given that Gallery systems often contain sensitive user data, including personal photos and metadata, successful exploitation could result in data breaches and privacy violations. The attack requires no special privileges or authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with access to the affected system.
Security mitigations for CVE-2012-1113 primarily involve immediate patching of affected Gallery installations to versions 2.3.2 or 3.0.3, which contain the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application to prevent similar issues in the future. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patched system to ensure that all administrative functions properly sanitize user inputs. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against similar attacks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) through potential exploitation paths, while the underlying CWE-79 classification indicates the fundamental need for proper input sanitization and output encoding practices in web application development.