CVE-2018-7722 in Piwigo
Summary
by MITRE
The management panel in Piwigo 2.9.3 has stored XSS via the name parameter in a /ws.php?format=json request. CSRF exploitation, related to CVE-2017-10681, may be possible.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7722 affects the management panel of Piwigo version 2.9.3, representing a significant security weakness that could enable attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated users. This flaw exists within the web services interface where the application fails to properly sanitize user input when processing the name parameter in API requests formatted as JSON. The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability allows an attacker to inject malicious code that persists in the application's database and executes whenever the affected page is accessed by other users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Piwigo management interface. When the name parameter is submitted through the ws.php endpoint with JSON format specification, the application stores this input without adequate sanitization measures. This stored data is subsequently retrieved and displayed in the management panel without proper HTML escaping or context-appropriate encoding, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be executed in the browsers of authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the management panel, which typically requires elevated privileges and contains sensitive administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially enable attackers to escalate privileges, steal session cookies, or perform unauthorized administrative actions within the Piwigo installation. The presence of a related CSRF vulnerability (CVE-2017-10681) significantly amplifies the threat surface, as attackers could potentially combine these vulnerabilities to execute automated attacks without requiring user interaction for each individual exploit. This combination allows for more sophisticated attack vectors where an attacker might first establish a persistent XSS payload through a CSRF attack, then leverage the stored XSS to maintain access or extract sensitive information from authenticated sessions.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and potentially relates to CWE-352, covering cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application vulnerability that could be leveraged for privilege escalation and persistent access within compromised systems. Organizations using Piwigo 2.9.3 should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches or upgrade to versions that address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, output encoding, and Content Security Policy headers can help mitigate the risk of similar vulnerabilities in the future. Regular security audits and penetration testing should include examination of API endpoints and management interfaces to identify potential stored XSS vulnerabilities that could affect web applications with similar architectures.