CVE-2006-4002 in Drupal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in user.module in Drupal 4.6 before 4.6.9, and 4.7 before 4.7.3, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the msg parameter. NOTE: portions of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2019
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in Drupal's user module and represents a critical security flaw that allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects Drupal versions 4.6 before 4.6.9 and 4.7 before 4.7.3, where the msg parameter in the user module fails to properly sanitize user input. The flaw enables attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML code through the msg parameter, which can then be executed when other users view the affected page. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001: Phishing, as it enables attackers to craft malicious web pages that can compromise user sessions and steal sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the user module's message handling functionality. When the msg parameter is processed, it does not undergo proper sanitization or escaping before being rendered in the web page context. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads such as javascript code, html tags, or other script elements that will execute in the victim's browser when they encounter the affected page. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, allowing attackers to exploit legitimate user sessions. The impact extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enable session hijacking, credential theft, and other malicious activities that can compromise the entire web application ecosystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations running affected Drupal versions, as it creates a persistent security risk that can be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise. Once exploited, the vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to user accounts, data exfiltration, and potential compromise of the entire web application infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or administrative privileges to exploit it. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues, reputational damage, and potential legal consequences if user data is compromised through such an attack vector. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices, as outlined in OWASP Top 10 2021 category A03: Injection, which specifically addresses issues related to improper input handling in web applications.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of Drupal 4.6.9 or 4.7.3 to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture can provide defense-in-depth protection. The mitigation strategy should include implementing Content Security Policy headers, proper output encoding for all user-generated content, and regular security audits of web applications. Security teams should also consider deploying web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious script injection attempts in their network traffic. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping web applications updated with the latest security patches and maintaining comprehensive security monitoring practices to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts.