CVE-2024-46606 in Piwigo
Summary
by MITRE • 10/16/2024
A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the component /admin.php?page=photo 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 vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-46606 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Piwigo photo gallery management system version 14.5.0. This security weakness resides in the administrative interface component located at /admin.php?page=photo, making it particularly dangerous as it targets the system's administrative functions where privileged users typically operate. The vulnerability enables malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code through the Description field of photo management, which is a commonly used input parameter for adding metadata to images within the gallery system. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to bypass normal input validation mechanisms that should prevent malicious code execution within the context of the web application.
This XSS vulnerability operates by failing to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before rendering it within the web page context. When administrators or other users view photo descriptions that contain malicious payloads, the injected scripts execute in the browser context of legitimate users who visit the affected pages. The attack vector specifically targets the Description field, which is a legitimate input field designed for users to add descriptive text to their photos, but the system does not adequately validate or escape this input before displaying it. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which is a well-established weakness in web application security that has been documented for decades. The attack surface is particularly concerning because the affected component is part of the administrative interface, meaning that successful exploitation could potentially allow attackers to gain elevated privileges or execute commands within the context of the administrator's session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple user sessions. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that may steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users within the Piwigo system. The fact that this vulnerability exists in the administrative component means that an attacker who successfully exploits it could potentially manipulate the entire photo gallery system, modify or delete content, or even gain full administrative control. This represents a significant risk to organizations relying on Piwigo for their photo management needs, particularly those that store sensitive or proprietary images. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" and T1566.002 for "Phishing: Spearphishing Link", as attackers could craft malicious descriptions that when viewed by administrators trigger malicious code execution. The threat is further exacerbated by the potential for automated exploitation, as the vulnerability could be leveraged by bots or automated attack frameworks that scan for such XSS flaws in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-46606 should focus on immediate patch application as the primary defense mechanism, as Piwigo has likely released a security update addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures to prevent similar issues in the future, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in web contexts. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers should be considered as an additional defense-in-depth measure to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the Piwigo system or related applications. Additionally, administrative users should be educated about the risks of viewing untrusted content, and access controls should be implemented to limit the scope of potential damage from successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing proper input validation as fundamental security practices that align with NIST Cybersecurity Framework principles and ISO 27001 security requirements.