CVE-2017-17825 in Piwigo
Summary
by MITRE
The Batch Manager component of Piwigo 2.9.2 is vulnerable to Persistent Cross Site Scripting via tags-* array parameters in an admin.php?page=batch_manager&mode=unit request. An attacker can exploit this to hijack a client's browser along with the data stored in it.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17825 affects the Batch Manager component of Piwigo version 2.9.2, representing a critical persistent cross site scripting flaw that undermines the security integrity of the web application. This vulnerability specifically manifests when processing tags-* array parameters within the admin.php?page=batch_manager&mode=unit request structure, creating an attack vector that allows malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into the application's data processing pipeline. The flaw resides in the insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before it is stored and subsequently rendered back to authenticated users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to adequately sanitize array parameters in the batch manager functionality, particularly those prefixed with tags-. When an administrator or authenticated user interacts with the batch manager interface, the system processes these parameters without proper validation, allowing malicious payloads to be stored within the application's database. This persistent nature means that the injected scripts execute every time the affected page is accessed, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws, and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices that require proper input sanitization and output encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to hijack user sessions and potentially access sensitive information stored within the browser environment. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can execute malicious scripts that may steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive data that the victim's browser has stored. The compromised user context provides access to administrative functions and potentially sensitive photo collections, user data, and system configuration information. This type of attack falls under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1531, which involves modifying or hijacking existing programs, and demonstrates how a single unpatched vulnerability can provide attackers with persistent access to privileged application functionality.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and output sanitization measures across all array parameter processing within the batch manager component. The most effective approach involves implementing strict parameter validation that filters out potentially malicious content before it is processed or stored, combined with proper HTML escaping of all dynamic content before rendering. Organizations should also implement comprehensive logging and monitoring of administrative actions within the batch manager functionality to detect anomalous parameter usage patterns. Additionally, regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in the application ecosystem. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in web applications and the necessity of following secure coding practices that prevent the injection of malicious content into application workflows.