CVE-2016-10513 in Piwigo
Summary
by MITRE
Cross Site Scripting (XSS) exists in Piwigo before 2.8.3 via a crafted search expression to include/functions_search.inc.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10513 represents a cross site scripting flaw discovered in Piwigo versions prior to 2.8.3, specifically within the search functionality of the include/functions_search.inc.php file. This vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, creating a significant security risk for websites utilizing this photo gallery software. The flaw manifests when a crafted search expression is processed through the search functions, enabling unauthorized code execution in the context of the victim's browser. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of persistent XSS attacks where malicious input is stored on the server and subsequently served to other users without proper sanitization or encoding.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the search functionality of Piwigo's core system. When users submit search queries through the web interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters in the search parameters before rendering them in the HTML output. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the browsers of other users who view the search results or pages containing the malicious content. The vulnerability specifically targets the include/functions_search.inc.php component, which handles search operations and processes user input without sufficient security controls to prevent script injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, redirect users to malicious websites, or even execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. An attacker could craft a search query containing malicious JavaScript that would be executed whenever any user views the search results page, potentially compromising user sessions and stealing authentication tokens. This vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected Piwigo installations, particularly when the software is used by users who may not be technically savvy about recognizing malicious content. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10513 focus primarily on updating to Piwigo version 2.8.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input sanitization issues. System administrators should immediately apply the vendor-provided security updates and verify that the fix has been properly implemented across all affected installations. Additional protective measures include implementing proper input validation at multiple layers of the application, enforcing strict output encoding for all user-supplied content, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious search parameters. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws in web applications, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through malicious web content. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of their web applications.