CVE-2013-1468 in Piwigo
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the LocalFiles Editor plugin in Piwigo before 2.4.7 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that create arbitrary PHP files via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2025
The CVE-2013-1468 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the LocalFiles Editor plugin of Piwigo gallery software versions prior to 2.4.7. This vulnerability resides in the web application's insufficient validation of user requests, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the authentication mechanisms of administrators. The flaw specifically enables remote attackers to manipulate the system into executing unauthorized operations that result in the creation of arbitrary PHP files, fundamentally compromising the integrity and security posture of the affected web application.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the LocalFiles Editor plugin's failure to properly implement anti-CSRF tokens or validate the origin of requests targeting file creation operations. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or exploit existing user sessions to submit requests that bypass normal authentication checks, allowing them to upload arbitrary PHP code to the server. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a weakness where the application does not properly validate or verify the source of requests, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for executing PHP code through web shells or file upload mechanisms. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely without requiring authentication to the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file creation, as it provides attackers with persistent access to the web server through the uploaded PHP files. This enables a range of subsequent attacks including remote code execution, data exfiltration, and further system compromise. Administrators who are logged into the Piwigo application when visiting malicious pages become unwitting participants in the attack, making this vector particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently browse the web. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the fact that once a malicious PHP file is uploaded, it remains on the server until manually removed, providing attackers with a long-term foothold in the compromised system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1468 require immediate patching of the LocalFiles Editor plugin to version 2.4.7 or later, which implements proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Organizations should also enforce strict access controls and network segmentation to limit exposure of the vulnerable application to untrusted networks. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with CSRF detection capabilities and conducting regular security audits of web applications can help identify and prevent similar vulnerabilities. The fix addresses the core issue by introducing proper request validation and anti-CSRF token implementation, aligning with industry best practices for preventing CSRF attacks as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for web application security.