CVE-2017-17774 in Piwigo
Summary
by MITRE
admin/configuration.php in Piwigo 2.9.2 has CSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17774 affects Piwigo version 2.9.2 and specifically targets the admin/configuration.php file, exposing it to Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the web application's administrative functions and could potentially allow unauthorized users to manipulate the gallery's configuration settings without proper authorization. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF mechanisms within the administrative interface, making it susceptible to exploitation by malicious actors who can craft malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate administrators.
The technical flaw manifests in the lack of CSRF tokens or similar validation mechanisms in the configuration management interface. When administrators access the admin/configuration.php page to modify gallery settings, the application fails to verify that the request originates from a legitimate administrative session. This absence of request validation creates an exploitable condition where an attacker can construct a malicious webpage or email attachment containing embedded requests that, when executed by an authenticated administrator, would modify the gallery configuration. The vulnerability operates under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Credential Access through manipulation of web application functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it could enable attackers to fundamentally alter the gallery's behavior and security posture. An attacker could potentially disable security features, modify user permissions, change gallery themes, or even introduce malicious code execution points. The risk is particularly elevated because the affected file serves as a critical administrative interface where sensitive configuration parameters are managed. This vulnerability could lead to complete compromise of the Piwigo installation, allowing attackers to establish persistent access or disrupt gallery operations. The exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through simple HTML forms or JavaScript payloads, making it a particularly dangerous flaw for public gallery installations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing proper CSRF protection mechanisms within the Piwigo application. The recommended approach includes generating and validating unique CSRF tokens for each administrative session, ensuring that all configuration modification requests are verified against legitimate administrative sessions. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Piwigo versions that address this vulnerability, as the official release included proper CSRF token implementation. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block suspicious requests, though these measures should complement rather than replace proper application-level fixes. Security monitoring should also include detection of unauthorized configuration changes, as this vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent backdoors or compromise other gallery functionalities. The remediation process must ensure that all administrative interfaces properly validate request origins and implement robust session management to prevent unauthorized access to critical system configuration parameters.