CVE-2015-1394 in Photo Gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Photo Gallery plugin before 1.2.11 for WordPress allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) sort_by, (2) sort_order, (3) items_view, (4) dir, (5) clipboard_task, (6) clipboard_files, (7) clipboard_src, or (8) clipboard_dest parameters in an addImages action to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1394 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Photo Gallery plugin for WordPress, affecting versions prior to 1.2.11. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's administrative interface, specifically targeting the wp-admin/admin-ajax.php endpoint which handles asynchronous requests. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with sufficient privileges to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising the entire WordPress installation and user data integrity. The vulnerability affects multiple parameters including sort_by, sort_order, items_view, dir, clipboard_task, clipboard_files, clipboard_src, and clipboard_dest, all of which are processed without proper sanitization measures. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it exploits a web application vulnerability to inject malicious code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the plugin's handling of user-supplied parameters in the addImages action within the admin-ajax.php file. When authenticated users submit requests containing malicious payloads in any of the affected parameters, the plugin fails to properly sanitize these inputs before processing them. The vulnerability leverages the fact that WordPress admin interfaces often trust authenticated users, creating a privilege escalation scenario where an attacker with access to the admin panel can manipulate parameters to inject malicious JavaScript code. This code executes when other administrators or users view the affected pages, creating a persistent threat vector that can be used to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform additional attacks. The exploitation requires only authenticated access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by compromised accounts or insider threats.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1394 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress environment. Successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of the affected WordPress installation, allowing attackers to modify content, create new administrator accounts, or exfiltrate sensitive data. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but potentially entire user bases that rely on the Photo Gallery plugin, as the malicious scripts can execute against any user who views affected content. Additionally, the attack surface is broad due to the multiple parameter vectors available, increasing the probability of successful exploitation. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and the potential for authenticated privilege escalation attacks to cause widespread damage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1394 require immediate action to upgrade the Photo Gallery plugin to version 1.2.11 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and validation measures. Organizations should implement comprehensive security monitoring to detect unauthorized parameter modifications and establish strict input validation policies for all user-supplied data. The WordPress core team recommends implementing proper content security policies and regularly updating all plugins and themes to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. Security measures should include disabling unnecessary administrative functions, implementing role-based access controls, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect suspicious traffic patterns associated with XSS exploitation attempts, and all administrative accounts should be protected with strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of unauthorized access that could lead to exploitation of this vulnerability.