CVE-2007-5228 in Drupal Project Issue Tracking
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the subscription functionality in the Project issue tracking module before 4.7.x-1.5, 4.7.x-2.x before 4.7.x-2.5, and 5.x-1.x before 5.x-1.1 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with project create or edit permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors involving a (1) individual or (2) overview form.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2017
The CVE-2007-5228 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Drupal's project issue tracking module that affects multiple version ranges including 4.7.x before 1.5, 4.7.x-2.x before 2.5, and 5.x-1.x before 1.1. This vulnerability specifically targets the subscription functionality within the project module, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions. The flaw exists in the handling of user input during both individual issue creation and overview form processing, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through multiple attack vectors within the same vulnerable component.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the project module's subscription handling mechanisms. When authenticated users with project create or edit permissions submit data through the affected forms, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions within the Drupal environment. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, specifically manifesting as a client-side code injection flaw that bypasses normal security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with persistent access to the Drupal platform through compromised user sessions. An attacker with project create or edit permissions can craft malicious payloads that will execute whenever other users view the affected issue pages or subscription notifications. This creates a vector for privilege escalation attacks where malicious users can manipulate the system to perform unauthorized actions, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the core security model of Drupal by allowing authenticated users to bypass the normal access controls and execute arbitrary code in the context of other users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5228 require immediate patch application to the affected Drupal versions, with administrators upgrading to patched releases that properly sanitize user input before rendering. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers including client-side and server-side sanitization to prevent malicious scripts from being stored or executed. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious script injection patterns, and access controls should be strictly enforced to limit project creation and editing permissions to only trusted users. The remediation process must include thorough testing of the patched environment to ensure that legitimate functionality remains intact while the XSS vulnerability is eliminated. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for malicious file execution and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, representing a classic example of how insufficient input validation can create persistent security weaknesses in content management systems.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input sanitization in web applications and the potential for authenticated users to create security breaches when proper validation controls are absent. Organizations should implement comprehensive security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing to identify similar input validation flaws in their Drupal installations. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments should be mandatory practices to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities like CVE-2007-5228 that have been documented for over a decade.