CVE-2006-2260 in Drupal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the project module (project.module) in Drupal 4.5 and 4.6 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unknown attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2260 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Drupal's project module version 4.5 and 4.6, classified under CWE-79 as an input validation and output encoding issue. This vulnerability arises from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within the project module's functionality, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution vector through web-based attacks underscores its severity, as it enables attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The attack vectors remain unspecified in the original description, which is common for vulnerabilities discovered before comprehensive attack surface analysis became standard practice in security research.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user input intended for project module functionality is not properly validated or sanitized before being rendered in web pages. This allows attackers to embed malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can be leveraged to bypass security controls and establish persistent access to Drupal installations. Attackers may exploit this weakness to manipulate the content of web pages, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute unauthorized administrative functions within the Drupal environment. The specific nature of the input handling failure within the project module's codebase creates a persistent threat that affects all users interacting with vulnerable Drupal installations.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-2260 is significant for organizations relying on Drupal 4.5 and 4.6 platforms, as it exposes them to potential session hijacking, data theft, and unauthorized modifications to website content. The vulnerability affects not just the project module but potentially the entire Drupal platform's user trust model, as compromised user sessions can lead to broader system compromise. Organizations may experience reputational damage from successful attacks, loss of user confidence, and potential regulatory consequences depending on the nature of data exposed through the XSS vector. The vulnerability's exploitation can occur without any user interaction beyond visiting a compromised page, making it particularly dangerous for public-facing Drupal websites. Security teams must consider the broader implications for web application security posture, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing client-side attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Drupal installations to version 4.7 or higher, where the XSS flaws have been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns that may indicate XSS attempts, though this approach should complement rather than replace proper code fixes. The remediation process must include thorough code review of the project module and related components to identify similar input handling issues that may exist in other parts of the Drupal codebase. Security measures should also include regular security audits, implementation of Content Security Policy headers, and enhanced monitoring for anomalous user activity patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script execution and T1566 for social engineering, emphasizing the need for layered defensive strategies. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify similar issues in other web applications and maintain updated threat intelligence to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability class.