CVE-2008-5996 in Simplenews
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Simplenews module 5.x before 5.x-1.5 and 6.x before 6.x-1.0-beta4, a module for Drupal, allows remote authenticated users, with "administer taxonomy" permissions, to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a Newsletter category field.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2018
The CVE-2008-5996 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Simplenews module for Drupal platforms, affecting versions 5.x prior to 5.x-1.5 and 6.x prior to 6.x-1.0-beta4. This vulnerability specifically targets the newsletter category field handling mechanism within the module's administrative interface, creating a significant security risk for Drupal-based websites that utilize this functionality. The flaw allows authenticated users with specific administrative permissions to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, session hijacking, or further exploitation of the compromised systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the Simplenews module's handling of newsletter category data. When administrators create or modify newsletter categories, the module fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages. This omission creates an XSS vector where malicious scripts can be injected into the category fields and subsequently executed when other users view the affected pages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only administrative permissions related to taxonomy management rather than full administrative privileges, making it accessible to users with relatively limited access rights.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks within compromised Drupal environments. An attacker with "administer taxonomy" permissions could inject malicious scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a specific user role, but this does not diminish its severity since it can be leveraged by insiders or through credential compromise. The attack vector operates through the web interface, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently manage newsletter content and taxonomy terms.
The security implications of CVE-2008-5996 align with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications. This classification indicates that the vulnerability exists due to inadequate sanitization of user-provided input, creating opportunities for malicious code injection. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications, credential access, and privilege escalation through web application exploitation. Organizations using affected Drupal versions should prioritize immediate patching, as the vulnerability represents a well-known exploit that has been documented and utilized in various attack scenarios. The remediation strategy involves upgrading to patched versions of the Simplenews module, implementing proper input validation mechanisms, and conducting regular security audits of third-party modules to ensure continued protection against similar vulnerabilities.