CVE-2016-10083 in Piwigo
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin/plugin.php in Piwigo through 2.8.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted filename that is mishandled in a certain error case.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10083 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Piwigo photo gallery management system, specifically affecting versions through 2.8.3. This vulnerability exists within the admin/plugin.php component of the application, making it particularly dangerous as it targets the administrative interface where privileged users typically perform sensitive operations. The flaw manifests when the system processes a crafted filename during an error condition, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the plugin management error handling mechanism. When Piwigo encounters an error while processing a plugin file with a specially crafted filename, the system fails to properly sanitize the input before displaying error messages or processing the malformed data. This creates an XSS vector where attackers can embed malicious scripts that execute in the browser of any user who views the affected error page or interacts with the compromised plugin functionality. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, specifically manifesting as a reflected XSS attack that can be triggered through the manipulation of filename parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the ability to escalate privileges and potentially compromise the entire administrative environment. An attacker could craft malicious filenames that, when processed by the admin interface, would execute scripts in the context of authenticated users with administrative privileges. This could lead to complete system compromise, allowing unauthorized modifications to the photo gallery, user account manipulation, or even the installation of backdoors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets the administrative component, which typically has elevated permissions and access to sensitive system resources. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.008 for Scripting and T1548.002 for Abuse of Functionality, as attackers can leverage the XSS to execute malicious code and manipulate system functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10083 should begin with immediate patching of the affected Piwigo installations to version 2.8.4 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding fixes. Organizations should implement strict input validation at multiple layers, ensuring that all filename inputs are properly sanitized and that error messages do not contain unsanitized user-provided data. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, while regular security audits of administrative interfaces should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also include monitoring for suspicious plugin installations and implementing principle of least privilege for administrative accounts. Security teams should consider implementing content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution, and regular penetration testing should be performed to validate the effectiveness of implemented controls. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in administrative interfaces, where the consequences of inadequate sanitization can extend far beyond simple data corruption to complete system compromise.