CVE-2015-2324 in Photo Gallery plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the filemanager in the Photo Gallery plugin before 1.2.13 for WordPress allows remote authenticated users with edit permission to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2324 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the filemanager component of the Photo Gallery plugin for WordPress systems. This security weakness affects versions prior to 1.2.13 and specifically targets authenticated users who possess edit permissions within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability manifests through unspecified vectors that allow malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the affected system. The exploitation of this flaw requires the attacker to have legitimate edit privileges, which significantly limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the potential for serious security consequences.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Photo Gallery plugin's filemanager functionality. When authenticated users with edit permissions interact with the filemanager interface, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages. This allows attackers to embed malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view affected content. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where inadequate validation of user-provided data leads to execution of malicious code in client browsers. This classification indicates that the root cause lies in the failure to properly encode or escape data before incorporating it into dynamic web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2324 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as the injected scripts can perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised browser sessions. Attackers could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify content displayed to other users, or even execute additional attacks through the compromised user accounts. The presence of authenticated users with edit permissions creates a particularly concerning scenario because these individuals typically have access to sensitive content and system functionalities. This vulnerability can be exploited as part of a broader attack chain, potentially serving as a stepping stone for more severe compromises within WordPress installations. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering attacks including the use of malicious content to compromise systems through web-based interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2324 should focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to version 1.2.13 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits of WordPress plugins, implementation of content security policies, and comprehensive monitoring of user activities within the filemanager components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping WordPress plugins updated, as outdated components often contain known security flaws that attackers actively exploit. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation mechanisms to provide additional defense layers against similar XSS vulnerabilities in other components of their web applications. Regular security training for users with administrative privileges can help prevent exploitation through social engineering approaches that might attempt to gain unauthorized access to edit permissions.