CVE-2008-4149 in Link to Us
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Greg Holsclaw Link to Us module 5.x before 5.x-1.1 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the "Link page header" field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2017
The CVE-2008-4149 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Greg Holsclaw Link to Us module for Drupal version 5.x prior to 5.x-1.1. This vulnerability specifically targets the "Link page header" field, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content within the context of affected Drupal installations. The issue manifests as a security weakness that allows authenticated users to exploit the input validation mechanisms of the module, potentially compromising the integrity of the web application and its users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input within the Link to Us module's administrative interface. When administrators or authorized users enter content into the "Link page header" field, the module fails to properly validate or escape the input before rendering it on web pages. This oversight creates a persistent cross-site scripting vector that can be exploited by attackers who have gained legitimate authentication credentials within the Drupal system. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which classifies it as a cross-site scripting weakness, specifically involving the improper validation of input data.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-4149 extends beyond simple data corruption or display manipulation, as it enables attackers to potentially hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. Once an authenticated user with sufficient privileges interacts with the vulnerable field, any injected script code executes in the context of other users who view the affected pages. This creates a chain reaction where compromised sessions can be leveraged for privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or further exploitation within the Drupal environment. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 which covers command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can use the XSS payload to execute malicious scripts in victim browsers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the Greg Holsclaw Link to Us module to version 5.x-1.1 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization fixes. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and regular security audits of third-party modules. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting administrative access to only necessary personnel and implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious script injection attempts. Security monitoring should focus on anomalous administrative activities and unexpected content modifications within the affected module's configuration fields. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to provide an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks that may bypass traditional input validation mechanisms.