CVE-2002-1806 in Drupal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Drupal 4.0.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via Javascript in an IMG tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1806 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Drupal version 4.0.0, classified under CWE-79 as Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a user's browser by exploiting weaknesses in the content sanitization mechanisms. The specific vector involves injecting malicious javascript code through an img tag attribute, which demonstrates how seemingly benign HTML elements can become dangerous when input validation is insufficient. The vulnerability exists due to inadequate filtering of user-supplied data that is subsequently rendered in web pages without proper sanitization.
Drupal 4.0.0's failure to adequately validate and escape user input creates a pathway for attackers to inject malicious content that executes in the victim's browser context. When the vulnerable application processes an img tag containing javascript code within its attributes, the system does not properly sanitize this input before rendering it on web pages. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically leverages the browser's interpretation of img tag attributes, where javascript: protocol handlers can be executed within the src attribute or other image-related parameters, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems that allow user-generated content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Attackers can exploit this weakness to compromise user accounts, manipulate content, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate. The vulnerability affects all users of Drupal 4.0.0 who have the ability to submit content or modify web page elements, potentially compromising entire websites and their user bases. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates how input validation failures can create persistent security risks in web applications. The attack surface is particularly broad since many content management systems allow users to submit HTML content, making this a common vector for exploitation in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1806 require immediate implementation of input validation and output escaping mechanisms. Organizations should upgrade to patched versions of Drupal as soon as possible, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases through enhanced content sanitization. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent script execution from unauthorized sources. Security measures should include comprehensive input filtering that removes or escapes potentially dangerous characters and attributes, particularly within HTML tags. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on input validation patterns are essential for preventing similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for Scripting and T1566 for Phishing, highlighting the attack vectors that leverage such weaknesses. Organizations should also implement proper web application firewall rules that can detect and block suspicious input patterns, particularly those involving javascript protocols within img tags. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and maintaining up-to-date security patches to prevent exploitation of known weaknesses in web applications.