CVE-2024-46605 in Piwigo
Summary
by MITRE • 10/16/2024
A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the component /admin.php?page=album of Piwigo v14.5.0 allows attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML via a crafted payload injected into the Description field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2025
The cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-46605 affects the Piwigo photo gallery management system version 14.5.0 specifically within the administrative component located at /admin.php?page=album. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that enables malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content through the Description field of album management functionality. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied content before rendering it within the web interface. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious payloads containing script tags or other executable HTML elements that get stored and subsequently executed when legitimate users view the affected album descriptions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or sanitization. The attack vector specifically targets the Description field within the album management interface, making it accessible through the administrative panel path that requires authentication. This means that an attacker must first obtain valid administrative credentials or exploit another vulnerability to gain access to the admin panel, after which they can inject malicious scripts that will execute in the context of other authenticated users who view the compromised album descriptions. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as these payloads can potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using Piwigo v14.5.0, as it creates potential for persistent threat actors to establish footholds within systems where the photo gallery is deployed. When legitimate users with administrative privileges view album descriptions containing malicious code, the scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further compromise of the affected systems. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the web application's user interface and can be leveraged to perform actions such as modifying album properties, accessing restricted content, or even escalating privileges within the application's administrative environment. Given that many organizations use photo gallery systems for both personal and professional purposes, this vulnerability could expose sensitive organizational data or user information stored within the gallery.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-46605 should prioritize immediate patching of the Piwigo application to version 14.5.1 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes for this vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied content before storage or display, following the principle of least privilege in administrative access controls. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security audits of web applications should include thorough testing of input fields for XSS vulnerabilities, and security awareness training should be provided to administrators to recognize potential social engineering attempts that might lead to credential compromise. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing Content Security Policy headers and other browser-based security mechanisms that can provide additional protection against script injection attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular penetration testing to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their web infrastructure.