Gallery Photoblocks Cross-Site Scripting Scanner
Detects 'Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)' vulnerability in Gallery Photoblocks affects v. < 1.1.41.
Short Info
Level
Medium
Single Scan
Single Scan
Can be used by
Asset Owner
Estimated Time
10 seconds
Time Interval
25 days 20 hours
Scan only one
Domain, IPv4, Subdomain
Toolbox
-
Gallery Photoblocks is a widely used gallery plugin for WordPress, designed to help users create visually appealing photo galleries with ease. This plugin is often utilized by photographers, artists, and website owners who wish to display images in a grid format on their websites. Its user-friendly interface and customizable options have made it a popular choice among WordPress users. By providing a set of responsive and highly customizable photo blocks, the plugin enables users to enhance their website's visual content. As a tool primarily used in the realm of visual and creative content display, it aids in the efficient presentation of images on a variety of professional and personal websites. This plugin is essential for users looking to add an interactive and aesthetic component to their WordPress sites.
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a frequent web security vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into webpages viewed by other users. This vulnerability arises when a web application includes untrusted data in its output, typically without proper validation or escaping. In the context of Gallery Photoblocks, XSS may occur because input fields or query parameters fail to sanitize or encode user inputs, allowing scripts to execute in the victim's browser session. This can lead to unauthorized actions on behalf of the user, unauthorized disclosure of information, or an unauthorized access to sensitive user data. XSS vulnerabilities can undermine user trust and compromise the security and reputation of the affected web application.
The vulnerability is found within the plugin's administrative page, particularly when handling input parameters that are not sufficiently sanitized before being incorporated into web pages. A specific vulnerable endpoint is the 'photoblocks-edit.php' file located within the 'admin/partials' directory of the plugin. This endpoint improperly processes the 'id' parameter, allowing unauthorized script execution. Attackers can craft a malicious URL containing the payload to exploit the reflected XSS by tricking a user into clicking it. When the URL is accessed, the script included in the payload is reflected in the user’s browser, executing with the context of that session. This vulnerability affects installations with versions lower than 1.1.41.
When this XSS vulnerability is exploited, it could lead to a range of harmful effects for the site's users and the administrators. Users could experience unwanted actions executed on their behalf, leading to unauthorized data transactions or access. Sensitive user data could be extracted or manipulated by attackers, potentially breaching confidentiality and privacy. Furthermore, the integrity of user sessions may be compromised, giving attackers control over session-specific activities. There is also a risk of reputational damage to both the site and the plugin developers, as exploitation of these vulnerabilities can reduce trust in the software's reliability. Exploitation of XSS can therefore have severe impacts on information integrity, confidentiality, and availability for all users involved.
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