CVE-2014-1980 in Piwigo
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in include/functions_metadata.inc.php in Piwigo before 2.4.6 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Make field in IPTC Exif metadata within an image uploaded to the Community plugin.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-1980 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Piwigo photo gallery system, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.4.6. This issue resides in the include/functions_metadata.inc.php file, which processes IPTC Exif metadata from uploaded images. The vulnerability manifests when the Community plugin handles image uploads that contain malicious content within their IPTC metadata fields, particularly the Make field that stores camera manufacturer information. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted image files containing malicious scripts within the IPTC metadata, which then gets executed when the metadata is displayed within the web interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows the standard XSS attack pattern where untrusted data from IPTC metadata is directly embedded into web pages without proper sanitization or encoding. When users view images through the Community plugin interface, the malicious code contained in the Make field gets executed in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security where input data is not properly validated or escaped before being rendered in web pages. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it occurs during the metadata processing phase, meaning any user with upload privileges could potentially introduce malicious content that affects all other users of the gallery system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a persistent threat vector within photo gallery environments where users frequently upload images from various sources. The Community plugin functionality makes this particularly dangerous since it often serves as a collaborative space where multiple users can contribute content, creating a broader attack surface. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to user sessions, steal cookies, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as it represents a method of delivering malicious code through image uploads that users might trust, especially in collaborative environments where file sharing is common. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, as the lack of proper sanitization of metadata fields creates an attack surface that can be exploited across different user contexts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures. The primary fix involves upgrading to Piwigo version 2.4.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly sanitize IPTC metadata before display. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as validating all uploaded metadata fields, implementing Content Security Policy headers, and ensuring proper output encoding for all dynamic content. Security teams should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious metadata patterns, while also conducting regular security audits of file upload functionalities. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of sanitizing all user-provided data, particularly in collaborative environments where multiple users can contribute content, and highlights the need for defense-in-depth approaches that protect against various attack vectors including those that leverage metadata fields in image files.