CVE-2007-1028 in Image Pager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Barry Jaspan Image Pager 4.7.x-1.x-dev and 5.x-1.x-dev before 2007-02-08 module for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors related to HTML entities and the IMG element.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2017
The CVE-2007-1028 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Barry Jaspan Image Pager module for Drupal content management systems. This vulnerability affected versions 4.7.x-1.x-dev and 5.x-1.x-dev of the module prior to the February 8, 2007 release, creating a significant security risk for Drupal installations that utilized this particular contrib module. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the module's handling of HTML entities and IMG element processing, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTML entities and IMG element attributes within the module's rendering process. Attackers could craft malicious payloads that would be executed in the context of other users' browsers when they viewed pages containing the vulnerable module's output. The flaw specifically relates to how the module processed and displayed image-related content, particularly when dealing with HTML entities that should have been properly escaped or sanitized. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical weakness in web applications where user-supplied data is not properly validated or escaped before being rendered in web pages. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe as it enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user's privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-1028 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within Drupal environments. When exploited, this vulnerability could allow attackers to steal user sessions, modify content, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability's presence in widely used Drupal versions meant that numerous websites could be at risk, particularly those that relied on the Image Pager module for displaying image galleries or media content. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which involves the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities for initial access, and T1059.007, which covers scripting through web shells or malicious scripts. The attack vector typically involves the injection of malicious JavaScript code through crafted image attributes or HTML entities that bypass the module's sanitization mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems where users might have the ability to upload or modify image-related content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate remediation through module updates and proper input validation. Organizations should upgrade to the patched version of the Barry Jaspan Image Pager module released on February 8, 2007, which addressed the HTML entity handling and IMG element processing issues. Additionally, administrators should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including the use of proper HTML escaping mechanisms for all user-supplied content and the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date Drupal core and contrib modules, as well as implementing robust security monitoring and regular vulnerability assessments. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns that could indicate attempts to exploit similar XSS vulnerabilities. This case demonstrates the critical importance of proper HTML entity encoding and output sanitization in web applications, particularly in content management systems where user-generated content processing is common. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the necessity for continuous security auditing and the implementation of defense-in-depth strategies to protect against various attack vectors including cross-site scripting exploits.