CVE-2021-43683 : Security Advisory and Response

pictshare v1.5 is affected by a Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in api/info.php, allowing an attacker to insert malicious scripts into the website. This can lead to various security risks and potentially compromise user data.

Understanding CVE-2021-43683

What is CVE-2021-43683?

CVE-2021-43683 is a Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in pictshare v1.5, specifically in the api/info.php file. This vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.

The Impact of CVE-2021-43683

The XSS vulnerability in pictshare v1.5 can have severe implications:

Attackers can execute malicious scripts in the context of a user's browser, potentially leading to account hijacking.
Sensitive information like login credentials or session cookies could be stolen.
It may result in defacement of the website or redirect users to malicious sites.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-43683

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a lack of proper input validation in the api/info.php file of pictshare v1.5. The script does not adequately filter user input, allowing attackers to insert malicious code that gets executed in users' browsers.

Affected Systems and Versions

Systems running pictshare v1.5 are affected by this vulnerability.
All versions of pictshare v1.5 are impacted.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability involves sending a crafted HTTP request containing malicious JavaScript code as the value of $_REQUEST['hash'] to the api/info.php file. Upon execution, the provided code gets processed without proper filtering, leading to the XSS attack.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2021-43683, consider the following immediate actions:

Implement input validation to sanitize user input, particularly in $_REQUEST['hash'] to prevent script injection.
Regularly monitor and audit the application for any signs of unauthorized access or manipulation.

Long-Term Security Practices

For long-term security enhancement, adopt these practices:

Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Keep software and libraries updated to patch known security issues and minimize the attack surface.

Patching and Updates

It is crucial to stay informed about security updates for pictshare and promptly apply patches released by the vendor to address the XSS vulnerability in api/info.php.