CVE-2012-4526 in Piwigo
Summary
by MITRE
piwigo has XSS in password.php (incomplete fix for CVE-2012-4525)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2012-4526 represents a cross-site scripting flaw in the Piwigo photo gallery software that demonstrates poor patch implementation following a previous security incident. This issue specifically affects the password.php component of the application, indicating that developers attempted to address a similar vulnerability in CVE-2012-4525 but failed to implement a complete solution. The incomplete remediation creates a persistent security gap that attackers can exploit to inject malicious scripts into the application's response handling. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process user-supplied data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user input within the password recovery functionality of Piwigo. When users attempt to reset their passwords or interact with password-related features, the application fails to properly encode or validate data before rendering it in web responses. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers who visit affected pages. The flaw typically manifests when the application displays user-provided information without adequate HTML escaping or context-appropriate encoding mechanisms, enabling attackers to craft payloads that can steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions, or redirect users to malicious sites.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4526 extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain administrative privileges within the Piwigo environment. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability allows threat actors to execute arbitrary code in victims' browsers, potentially leading to complete account takeover scenarios. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that password reset functionality is a critical component that users frequently interact with, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to harvest sensitive information from authenticated sessions or manipulate the application's behavior to perform unauthorized operations.
Organizations using affected versions of Piwigo should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies that include applying the latest security patches from the vendor, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and conducting thorough security assessments of their web applications. The remediation process should involve complete sanitization of all user inputs, proper HTML escaping of dynamic content, and regular security testing to identify similar incomplete fixes. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers scripting through web shells and command and control communications, emphasizing the need for robust application-level defenses. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security monitoring can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts while ensuring that similar issues do not arise from inadequate patch management processes.