CVE-2008-3091 in Taxonomy Autotagger module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Taxonomy Autotagger module 5.x before 5.x-1.8 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users, with create or edit post permissions, to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2017
The CVE-2008-3091 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Taxonomy Autotagger module for Drupal version 5.x prior to 5.x-1.8. This vulnerability specifically targets the module's handling of user input within taxonomy terms and autotagging functionality, creating a significant security risk for Drupal installations. The flaw enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects authenticated users who possess the permissions to create or edit posts, making it exploitable by individuals with legitimate access to the content management system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Taxonomy Autotagger module's processing of taxonomy terms. When users with appropriate permissions create or modify content, the module fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web interface. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of other users who view the affected content. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple input points within the autotagging functionality could be exploited, making the vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against. The flaw operates as a classic reflected XSS attack where malicious input is stored and later executed when other users access the affected pages.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-3091 extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, redirect users to malicious websites, or even modify content within the Drupal system. Given that the vulnerability requires only create or edit post permissions, it can be exploited by users who have legitimate access to the content management system, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with less stringent access controls. The exploitation could lead to complete compromise of user accounts, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the affected Drupal environment. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-79 which defines Cross-site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper validation or encoding, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities for initial access or privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3091 should prioritize immediate patching of the Taxonomy Autotagger module to version 5.x-1.8 or later, which contains the necessary input validation and output encoding fixes. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including content security policy headers to limit script execution, regular input validation checks, and monitoring of user activities for suspicious behavior. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while regular security audits should verify that all Drupal modules are updated to their latest secure versions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices in web application development, aligning with industry standards that emphasize the need for defense-in-depth approaches to web security.