CVE-2023-27620 in Image Gallery plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/07/2023
Auth. (contributor+) Stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in RoboSoft Photo Gallery, Images, Slider in Rbs Image Gallery plugin <= 3.2.12 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2023-27620 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the RoboSoft Photo Gallery plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions 3.2.12 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the plugin's handling of user input within the image gallery functionality, where contributors and users with contributor-level privileges can exploit the vulnerability. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in the web application's response. Attackers with contributor-level access can leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts into the gallery's image metadata or description fields, which then execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected gallery pages.
The technical exploitation of this stored XSS vulnerability follows the typical attack pattern where malicious input is persistently stored within the application's database and subsequently served to other users without proper sanitization. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, specifically manifesting as a stored XSS variant that allows attackers to execute scripts in the victim's browser context. This particular flaw is particularly concerning because it requires only contributor-level privileges, which are commonly granted to trusted users who may have limited administrative access but still possess the ability to modify content. The attack vector involves uploading or modifying image metadata through the plugin's interface, where the malicious JavaScript payload is stored and later retrieved when gallery pages are rendered.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive user data, or redirect victims to malicious domains. Since the vulnerability affects a widely used WordPress plugin, the potential attack surface is extensive, with numerous websites potentially exposed to this threat. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious scripts remain persistent and continue to affect users until the payload is removed from the database. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for content management systems where contributors may have elevated privileges within specific sections of the website, potentially allowing attackers to compromise entire websites through targeted attacks on contributor accounts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-27620 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the stored XSS vulnerability, as developers typically release patches to resolve such security issues. Organizations should implement strict input validation measures and output encoding for all user-supplied content, particularly within media management interfaces. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting contributor access to only necessary functionality and implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script patterns. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should include vulnerability scanning to identify outdated components that may expose the system to similar stored XSS threats. Additionally, implementing content security policies can provide an additional defense layer against script execution, while regular monitoring of user activity logs can help detect unauthorized modifications that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the potential risks that contributor-level access can pose when proper input sanitization mechanisms are absent from web applications.