CVE-2008-3218 in Drupal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Drupal 6.x before 6.3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to (1) free tagging taxonomy terms, which are not properly handled on node preview pages, and (2) unspecified OpenID values.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-3218 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in Drupal 6.x versions prior to 6.3, exposing web applications to remote code execution through malicious script injection. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly integrated into web pages without adequate sanitization or encoding measures. The security flaw manifests in two distinct attack vectors that exploit different components of the Drupal content management system's data handling mechanisms.
The first vulnerability occurs within the free tagging taxonomy term functionality, where user-generated content fails to undergo proper sanitization when displayed on node preview pages. This creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The second vector involves unspecified OpenID values, which suggests a broader class of input handling issues within the authentication system that could similarly allow script injection attacks. Both attack vectors demonstrate a fundamental failure in the application's input validation and output encoding processes, which are core defensive mechanisms against XSS exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the Drupal environment. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to the technique of "Cross-Site Scripting" under the T1059 category, with potential for lateral movement and privilege escalation through session manipulation. The vulnerability affects the entire Drupal user base, particularly those with administrative privileges, as malicious scripts could be used to manipulate content, modify user permissions, or gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The preview functionality of node creation pages becomes a critical attack surface where legitimate users might inadvertently execute malicious code while reviewing content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Drupal installations to version 6.3 or later, which includes proper sanitization of taxonomy terms and OpenID values. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures that sanitize all user-provided content before rendering it in web pages, utilizing proper HTML encoding techniques for dynamic content. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent script execution from unauthorized sources. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of consistent security practices across all data handling pathways within content management systems.