CVE-2018-5692 in Piwigo
Summary
by MITRE
Piwigo v2.8.2 has XSS via the `tab`, `to`, `section`, `mode`, `installstatus`, and `display` parameters of the `admin.php` file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5692 affects Piwigo version 2.8.2 and represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability that resides within the administrative interface of the photo gallery software. This flaw specifically targets multiple parameters including tab, to, section, mode, installstatus, and display within the admin.php file, creating a significant security risk for administrators who interact with the system's backend management features.
This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the Piwigo application's administrative component. The affected parameters are processed without proper sanitization before being rendered in the web interface, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code that executes in the context of authenticated administrator sessions. The flaw aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a common weakness where untrusted data is directly included in dynamic content without proper encoding or validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it provides attackers with a pathway to compromise administrator accounts and potentially gain full control over the Piwigo installation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious URLs containing script payloads in the affected parameters, which when accessed by an administrator would execute the injected code. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification of photo galleries, deletion of content, or even the installation of backdoors. The vulnerability particularly affects the administrative interface where users have elevated privileges, making the potential damage significantly greater than typical user-facing XSS flaws.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites as it only necessitates that an administrator accesses a maliciously crafted URL containing the XSS payload. This makes the attack surface particularly concerning given that administrators often maintain persistent sessions and may be less cautious when navigating administrative interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in input sanitization practices and highlights the importance of implementing comprehensive security measures in web applications, particularly in administrative sections where privileged access exists.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to a patched version of Piwigo, applying the vendor-provided security patches, and implementing additional security controls such as content security policies. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of proper parameter validation and output encoding in web applications, with recommendations to implement strict input sanitization routines and to follow secure coding practices aligned with OWASP Top Ten security guidelines. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of administrative access patterns can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability exemplifies the critical need for regular security assessments and patch management processes to protect against known vulnerabilities that could lead to complete system compromise.