CVE-2019-20182 in FooGallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The FooGallery plugin 1.8.12 for WordPress allow XSS via the post_title parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2024
The FooGallery plugin version 1.8.12 for WordPress contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization of the post_title parameter. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with contributor or higher privileges to inject malicious scripts into gallery post titles, which are then executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected gallery pages. The flaw stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in HTML contexts, creating a classic XSS attack vector that can be exploited to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of victims.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the plugin's data handling processes where the post_title parameter is directly incorporated into HTML output without appropriate encoding or sanitization measures. The vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's gallery management interface where administrators and contributors can create or modify gallery posts. When a malicious user submits a gallery post with crafted script content in the title field, the script executes in the browser context of any user who views that gallery, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where administrators may inadvertently view malicious content.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress installations using the FooGallery plugin, as it can be exploited to escalate privileges and perform unauthorized actions within the WordPress admin interface. Attackers can leverage the XSS to steal administrator session tokens, modify gallery content, or inject malicious scripts that persist across multiple user sessions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only contributor-level privileges, making it accessible to users who should normally have limited administrative capabilities. This creates a potential privilege escalation scenario where less privileged users can gain access to sensitive administrative functions through the execution of malicious scripts.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities in web applications, specifically covering the improper neutralization of input during web page generation. It also maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 which involves data from information repositories, where attackers can manipulate stored data to execute malicious code. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that this vulnerability affects the WordPress ecosystem where galleries are commonly used for displaying user-generated content, making it a prime target for exploitation in environments with multiple contributors. Organizations should immediately update to the patched version of FooGallery plugin, implement proper input validation measures, and consider restricting contributor privileges until the update is applied.
Security mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the FooGallery plugin to version 1.8.13 or later, which addresses the XSS vulnerability through proper input sanitization and output encoding. Network administrators should also implement content security policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, monitor for suspicious activity in gallery-related posts, and conduct regular security audits of installed WordPress plugins. Additionally, implementing role-based access controls that limit contributor privileges to gallery creation and modification can reduce the attack surface, while regular security scanning of WordPress installations can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or themes that may be present in the same environment.