CVE-2020-35853 in Image Gallery Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 01/26/2021
4images Image Gallery Management System 1.7.11 is affected by cross-site scripting (XSS) in the Image URL. This vulnerability can result in an attacker to inject the XSS payload into the IMAGE URL. Each time a user visits that URL, the XSS triggers and the attacker can be able to steal the cookie according to the crafted payload.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2021
The CVE-2020-35853 vulnerability affects the 4images Image Gallery Management System version 1.7.11, specifically targeting cross-site scripting flaws in the Image URL handling mechanism. This vulnerability represents a critical security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into image URLs, creating persistent XSS attack vectors that can compromise user sessions and data confidentiality. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a common web application security flaw where untrusted data is improperly integrated into web pages viewed by users. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it leverages the image URL parameter, which is typically considered a benign input field for image references within web applications. When users navigate to pages containing maliciously crafted image URLs, the injected JavaScript payloads execute in the context of their browser sessions, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users who encounter the compromised content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing XSS payload within the image URL parameter and distributes it to victims. Upon visiting pages that display images from the compromised URL, the browser executes the injected JavaScript code, which can perform various malicious activities including cookie theft, session hijacking, and redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the 4images system, specifically in how it processes and renders image URLs. This flaw allows attackers to bypass standard security controls that typically protect against XSS attacks by injecting malicious code directly into the URL parameter that gets rendered as part of the HTML output. The persistent nature of this vulnerability means that once a malicious URL is created and shared, any user who accesses it will automatically trigger the XSS payload without any additional interaction from the attacker, making it particularly dangerous for image gallery systems where users frequently click on links and images.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-35853 extends beyond simple cookie theft to encompass broader session manipulation and potential data exfiltration capabilities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to user accounts, potentially leading to unauthorized administrative actions, content modification, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1531 which involves using malicious code to access credentials and session tokens, and T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol usage for command and control communications. Organizations running 4images 1.7.11 systems face significant risk as users may unknowingly trigger XSS payloads when viewing compromised images, leading to unauthorized access to their accounts and potential data breaches. The impact is particularly severe in environments where users trust the image gallery system and regularly interact with shared content, as the attack can be executed through social engineering or by simply visiting compromised web pages that display malicious images.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures throughout the 4images application. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied data, particularly image URL parameters, undergo rigorous sanitization before being rendered in HTML contexts. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. Regular security updates and patches should be applied immediately upon availability, as the vulnerability affects a specific version of the software that likely contains other related security flaws. Network monitoring and web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious URL patterns that may indicate XSS injection attempts. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of clicking on untrusted links and visiting potentially compromised websites remains crucial. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in OWASP Top 10 and the CWE guidelines for preventing XSS attacks, emphasizing the need for proper input validation, output encoding, and secure session management within web applications.