CVE-2014-4529 in Flash Photo Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in fpg_preview.php in the Flash Photo Gallery plugin 0.7 and earlier for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the path parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2018
The CVE-2014-4529 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Flash Photo Gallery WordPress plugin version 0.7 and earlier. This vulnerability exists in the fpg_preview.php script which processes user input through the path parameter without adequate sanitization or validation. The flaw creates a significant security risk as it allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of victim browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions on behalf of users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a widely used WordPress plugin, making it a prime target for automated exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input handling within the plugin's preview functionality. When users navigate to the preview page with a path parameter, the application fails to sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in the web page context. This lack of proper input validation creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed when other users view the affected page. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the vulnerable parameter, making it particularly effective for phishing attacks or session manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4529 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the context of authenticated users. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal cookies, modify user preferences, or even gain administrative access if users have elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects all users who visit pages utilizing the Flash Photo Gallery plugin, creating a broad attack surface that can be exploited through various vectors including email attachments, compromised websites, or social engineering campaigns. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where WordPress installations are widely deployed.
Security practitioners should address this vulnerability through immediate patching of the Flash Photo Gallery plugin to version 0.8 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization fixes. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding measures within the WordPress environment can provide defense-in-depth protection. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a primary weakness. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments and T1059.007 for command and control through script injection. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls and content security policies to mitigate the risk of exploitation and prevent unauthorized script execution in user contexts.