CVE-2008-5999 in Ajax Checklist
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Ajax Checklist module 5.x before 5.x-1.1 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users, with create and edit permissions for posts, to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors involving the ajax_checklist filter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2017
The CVE-2008-5999 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Ajax Checklist module for Drupal version 5.x prior to 5.x-1.1. This vulnerability specifically targets authenticated users who possess create and edit permissions for posts, creating a significant security risk for Drupal-based web applications that utilize this module. The flaw resides in the ajax_checklist filter implementation, which fails to properly sanitize user input before processing it for display within web pages.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the module's filter mechanism. When authenticated users with appropriate permissions create or edit content that incorporates the ajax_checklist functionality, malicious scripts or HTML code can be injected into the system. These injected elements bypass normal security controls and execute within the context of other users' browsers who view the affected content. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple injection points exist within the filter implementation, making the vulnerability particularly challenging to fully mitigate without comprehensive code review.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts that may steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The authenticated nature of the attack means that the threat actor does not require administrative privileges to exploit this vulnerability, significantly expanding the potential attack surface. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and can enable further exploitation attempts against other system components that rely on user authentication for security boundaries.
Organizations utilizing Drupal 5.x systems with the Ajax Checklist module should prioritize immediate remediation through the official module update to version 5.x-1.1 or later. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content. Network segmentation and additional input validation measures can serve as temporary mitigations while permanent fixes are implemented. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous content creation patterns and unusual script injection attempts within affected systems.
The broader implications for Drupal security highlight the importance of thorough module vetting and regular security updates. This vulnerability underscores that third-party modules can introduce significant security risks even when the core CMS appears secure. Organizations should implement comprehensive security testing procedures that include dynamic analysis of module functionality and maintain updated security baselines for all installed components. The incident serves as a reminder that authenticated vulnerabilities can provide attackers with substantial leverage for further compromise within networked environments.