CVE-2008-0462 in Archive Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Archive 5.x before 5.x-1.8 module for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0462 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Archive 5.x module for the Drupal content management system. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 5.x-1.8 and exposes web applications to potential exploitation by remote attackers who can inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the module's handling of user-supplied data, creating an avenue for attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected websites.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web page content without adequate sanitization or encoding. The flaw manifests when the Archive 5.x module processes user input through unspecified vectors, likely involving form fields, URL parameters, or other data entry points that are not properly escaped or validated before being rendered in web responses. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit affected pages, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised systems.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to Drupal installations using the affected Archive module, as it enables attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The impact extends beyond simple script injection, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to manipulate content, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by upgrading to the patched version 5.x-1.8 or later of the Archive module. Organizations maintaining Drupal installations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected modules and ensure proper input validation is implemented throughout their web applications. The mitigation strategy should include implementing proper output encoding, employing Content Security Policy headers, and regularly updating all third-party modules to address known vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious user input patterns can provide additional layers of protection against similar attacks that may target other components of the Drupal ecosystem. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the potential consequences of failing to address known vulnerabilities in web application components.