CVE-2012-1556 in Photo Station
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Synology Photo Station 5 for DiskStation Manager (DSM) 3.2-1955 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the name parameter to photo/photo_one.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-1556 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Synology Photo Station 5 component of the DiskStation Manager platform. This security weakness exists in the way the application processes user input through the name parameter in the photo/photo_one.php script, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the Photo Station module. When users submit data through the name parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in web pages, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that can be executed by other users who view the affected content. This classic XSS vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web interface of the DiskStation Manager system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to establish persistent malicious presence within the network environment. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to hijack user sessions, steal authentication credentials, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute privilege escalation attacks within the context of the Photo Station application. The vulnerability affects users of DSM 3.2-1955 and potentially other versions of the platform where similar input handling issues persist.
Organizations utilizing Synology DiskStation Manager systems with Photo Station functionality face significant risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where users have access to upload or modify photo metadata. The attack vector requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users interact with shared photo libraries. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader web application security frameworks, with direct relevance to CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws, and ATT&CK technique T1566 which addresses social engineering via malicious content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate application of Synology's security patches and updates, implementation of input validation controls within the web application layer, and deployment of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Network segmentation and user access controls should be reviewed to limit exposure, while security monitoring should include detection of anomalous script execution patterns in user session data. Regular security assessments of web applications and input validation procedures should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other system components.