CVE-2012-1613 in Photo Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in edit_one_pic.php in Coppermine Photo Gallery before 1.5.20 allows remote authenticated users with certain privileges to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the keywords parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2024
The CVE-2012-1613 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Coppermine Photo Gallery software version 1.5.19 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the edit_one_pic.php script which handles photo editing functionalities within the gallery system. The flaw enables remote authenticated users to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code through manipulation of the keywords parameter, creating a significant security risk for web applications that rely on this photo gallery platform.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the edit_one_pic.php script. When users with appropriate privileges attempt to edit photo metadata, the keywords parameter is processed without proper sanitization of user-supplied input. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically targets the keywords parameter, which is commonly used for tagging and categorizing photos within the gallery system. The flaw operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification as CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses that occur when an application incorporates untrusted data into web pages without proper validation or escaping.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. An authenticated user with editing privileges can leverage this vulnerability to inject scripts that persist in the gallery's database, affecting all users who view the affected photo metadata. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges to exploit, typically just access to the photo editing functionality, making it accessible to users who should normally be trusted within the application's permission model.
The exploitation of this vulnerability follows established attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of Web Application Attack. Attackers can craft malicious keywords containing script tags that execute when other users view the photo information, potentially stealing session cookies or redirecting users to phishing sites. The vulnerability's persistence depends on the gallery's storage mechanism, where injected scripts are saved in the database and displayed to other users without proper sanitization. This creates a vector for both reactive and persistent attacks against users of the gallery system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1613 involve immediate software updates to Coppermine Photo Gallery version 1.5.20 or later, which contain the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement proper output encoding for all user-supplied content, particularly in metadata fields like keywords, to prevent script execution. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against XSS attacks. Regular security audits of web applications should include validation of input handling mechanisms, and developers should follow secure coding practices such as those outlined in OWASP's Secure Coding Practices. Additionally, privilege management should be reviewed to ensure that users only receive the minimum necessary permissions to perform their required functions, reducing the attack surface for such vulnerabilities.