CVE-2008-1131 in Drupal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Drupal 6.0 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via titles in content edit forms.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1131 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Drupal content management system version 6.0. This issue specifically targets the content editing functionality where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users. The vulnerability exists in the way Drupal processes and displays titles within content edit forms, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code in the browsers of unsuspecting users.
This XSS vulnerability operates through the manipulation of content titles that are submitted by authenticated users with appropriate privileges. When these titles are processed and displayed within the Drupal administrative interface, the lack of proper input validation and output encoding allows malicious payloads to be embedded and subsequently executed. The flaw is particularly concerning because it affects authenticated users, meaning that attackers who have gained access to legitimate user accounts can leverage this vulnerability to compromise other users within the same Drupal environment. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker with access to a user account can craft specially formatted titles that, when viewed by other users, execute scripts in their browsers. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, modification of content, or even complete compromise of the Drupal site. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users with varying privilege levels interact with the same system, as it could be exploited to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to restricted areas of the content management system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1131 should include immediate application of the official Drupal security patch that addresses this specific vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their Drupal installations, ensuring that all user-generated content undergoes proper sanitization before being stored or displayed. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring user activities can help detect suspicious behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and maintaining up-to-date security measures as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including those referenced in the ATT&CK framework for application security. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to add additional layers of protection against similar XSS attacks in their Drupal environments.