CVE-2013-3261 in Flash-album-gallery
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in wp-admin/admin.php in the GRAND FlAGallery plugin before 2.72 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the s parameter in a flag-manage-gallery action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2017
The CVE-2013-3261 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the GRAND FlAGallery plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.72. This vulnerability resides in the wp-admin/admin.php file and exploits a weakness in parameter validation that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content. The flaw occurs when the plugin processes the s parameter within a flag-manage-gallery action, creating an avenue for persistent XSS attacks that can compromise user sessions and execute unauthorized commands on behalf of authenticated users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output encoding within the plugin's administrative interface. When administrators navigate to the gallery management section and interact with the s parameter, the plugin fails to properly validate or escape user-supplied input before rendering it within the web page context. This creates a classic reflected XSS vector that can be exploited by attackers who craft malicious URLs containing script payloads. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the WordPress admin area, where users typically have elevated privileges and access to sensitive system functions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress installations using the affected GRAND FlAGallery plugin. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal administrator cookies, execute arbitrary JavaScript code, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of the authenticated user. The attack surface is expanded due to the administrative context, potentially allowing full system compromise if attackers can escalate privileges or gain persistent access. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but entire WordPress installations, as the malicious scripts can be executed whenever administrators access the compromised gallery management interface.
Security professionals should note this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application attack vector under the technique of code injection, with potential for privilege escalation and persistence. Organizations should immediately update to GRAND FlAGallery version 2.72 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Additional mitigations include implementing content security policies, monitoring for suspicious administrative activity, and conducting thorough security audits of third-party WordPress plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in administrative interfaces and highlights the risks associated with outdated plugin versions in WordPress environments.