CVE-2022-1394 in Photo Gallery by 10Web Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/08/2022
The Photo Gallery by 10Web WordPress plugin before 1.6.4 does not properly validate and escape some of its settings, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to perform Cross-Site Scripting attacks when unfiltered_html is disallowed
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2022
The Photo Gallery by 10Web WordPress plugin vulnerability CVE-2022-1394 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw that emerges from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's settings handling. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 1.6.4 and exploits a fundamental weakness in how the plugin processes user inputs, particularly when the WordPress environment has the unfiltered_html capability disabled for administrative users. The flaw occurs in the plugin's administrative interface where user-provided data is not sufficiently sanitized before being rendered back to users, creating an avenue for malicious script injection. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets high-privilege users such as administrators who typically have elevated permissions and access to sensitive system functions. When an attacker with admin-level privileges can execute XSS payloads, the potential for further exploitation increases dramatically as these scripts can manipulate the administrative interface, steal session cookies, or even redirect administrators to malicious sites. The security implications extend beyond simple script execution since the compromised administrative session could enable attackers to modify plugin configurations, upload malicious files, or gain deeper access to the WordPress installation. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the failure to properly neutralize user input data when it is used in the application's output, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes the use of malicious content in web applications to compromise user sessions and execute unauthorized actions. The exploitation scenario becomes more severe when considering that WordPress administrators often have access to critical system functions and user data, making the XSS payload potentially devastating in scope. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it operates within the administrative context, where the injected scripts can manipulate the full plugin interface and potentially access sensitive configuration data. The root cause stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper output escaping mechanisms for settings that are processed through the WordPress admin area. When unfiltered_html is disabled, WordPress enforces stricter sanitization rules for content submitted through administrative interfaces, but the Photo Gallery plugin bypasses these protections by not properly escaping data that flows through its settings management system. This creates a persistent security gap where user inputs are not adequately neutralized before being displayed in the admin interface, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient data validation that violates fundamental security principles of input sanitization and output escaping. The lack of proper validation means that even when WordPress security measures are in place to prevent unrestricted HTML input, the plugin's internal processing still allows malicious content to persist and execute. This flaw highlights the importance of comprehensive security testing across all components of a WordPress plugin, particularly those that handle user inputs in administrative contexts. The remediation requires proper implementation of output escaping for all user-provided data that appears in the plugin's administrative interface, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is neutralized before display. The fix should also include proper input validation to prevent the acceptance of harmful payloads during the settings submission process, thereby preventing the persistence of malicious content in the plugin's configuration storage.
The vulnerability's operational impact extends beyond simple XSS execution as it creates a persistent threat vector within the WordPress administrative environment. Administrators who are logged into the site with elevated privileges become potential victims of these attacks, as the malicious scripts can execute in their browser context and manipulate the administrative interface in real-time. The compromised administrative sessions could allow attackers to modify plugin settings, access sensitive configuration data, or even gain access to other parts of the WordPress installation that are protected by the administrative privileges. The vulnerability's persistence is particularly concerning because once an attacker successfully injects malicious code, the payload will execute every time an administrator views the affected plugin interface, creating a continuous threat vector. This type of vulnerability is especially dangerous in multi-user environments where administrators might be using the same browser session or where session management is not strictly enforced. The exploitation process requires minimal privileges, as only an administrative account with the ability to modify plugin settings is needed to inject the malicious script. The vulnerability's severity is further amplified by the fact that many WordPress installations do not regularly update plugins, meaning that vulnerable versions could remain in production environments for extended periods. The security implications also include potential data exfiltration where the injected scripts could capture sensitive information from the administrative interface or redirect users to phishing sites. The vulnerability's exploitation is relatively straightforward and does not require advanced technical skills, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors. Organizations that rely on the Photo Gallery plugin for their WordPress installations should prioritize immediate patching to prevent potential exploitation, as the vulnerability creates a direct pathway for attackers to compromise administrative privileges and potentially gain broader access to the web application. The remediation process involves updating to version 1.6.4 or later, which includes proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms that prevent the persistence of malicious content in the plugin's settings handling.