CVE-2008-6170 in Drupal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Drupal 5.x before 5.12 and 6.x before 6.6 allows remote authenticated users with create book content or edit node book hierarchy permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the book page title.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2025
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in Drupal content management systems affecting versions 5.x before 5.12 and 6.x before 6.6. The flaw allows authenticated users with specific permissions to execute malicious scripts through crafted book page titles, representing a significant security risk in web applications. The vulnerability specifically targets the book module functionality where users can create or modify book content hierarchy, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users have editing privileges. This issue falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security where input data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The vulnerability enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the web application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated user who possesses either the create book content permission or the edit node book hierarchy permission within the Drupal system. This permission model creates a vector where legitimate users can be coerced or compromised to perform malicious actions against other system users. When a user creates or modifies a book page title containing malicious script code, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in the web interface. The script injection occurs because the application does not adequately validate or escape user-supplied data in the book title field, allowing attackers to inject javascript or html code that executes when other users view the affected book pages. This particular flaw demonstrates a classic XSS attack pattern where the malicious payload is stored server-side and executed client-side when users access the vulnerable content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks within the Drupal environment. An attacker could craft malicious book titles that redirect users to phishing sites, steal session cookies, or inject additional malicious content that could compromise the entire web application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Drupal is used for content management, as it allows attackers to manipulate content and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The affected versions represent a significant portion of Drupal installations at the time of the vulnerability disclosure, making it a widespread concern for organizations that had not yet applied the necessary security patches. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, where attackers use javascript payloads to exploit web application vulnerabilities and maintain persistence within the target environment.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the official security patches released by Drupal for both version 5.12 and 6.6, which include proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms for book title fields. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as input validation, output encoding, and regular security audits of their Drupal installations. The patch addresses the core issue by ensuring that all user-supplied data in book title fields is properly escaped before being rendered in web pages, preventing malicious scripts from executing. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Regular monitoring of security advisories and maintaining up-to-date Drupal installations remains crucial for preventing similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in web application development, as outlined in industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.