CVE-2008-6275 in User Karma module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the User Karma module 5.x before 5.x-1.13 and 6.x before 6.x-1.0-beta1, a module for Drupal, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2017
The CVE-2008-6275 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the User Karma module for Drupal platforms, affecting versions 5.x prior to 5.x-1.13 and 6.x prior to 6.x-1.0-beta1. This vulnerability resides in the module's handling of user input and message processing, creating a persistent security risk that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected user sessions. The flaw specifically manifests when the module processes unspecified messages, which are typically user-generated content or administrative communications that flow through the system without adequate sanitization.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security where user-supplied data is not properly validated or escaped before being rendered in web pages. The User Karma module's failure to adequately sanitize message content creates an attack surface where malicious actors can inject HTML tags, JavaScript code, or other malicious payloads that will execute when other users view the affected content. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that Drupal's user karma system typically involves displaying user reputation information and messages, making the attack vector particularly insidious as it targets commonly accessed administrative and user-facing interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, and data exfiltration. When users with administrative privileges view compromised messages, the attacker gains elevated privileges within the application context, potentially allowing full system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where administrators regularly review user messages and karma-related communications, as these interactions create multiple potential entry points for exploitation. According to ATT&CK framework technique T1531, this vulnerability represents a path for privilege escalation through the manipulation of user interface elements and message processing components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-6275 require immediate patching of the affected User Karma module to versions 5.x-1.13 or 6.x-1.0-beta1, which contain the necessary input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding policies throughout their Drupal installations, ensuring that all user-generated content is properly escaped before rendering in web pages. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual message content patterns, and access controls should be reviewed to limit which users can submit potentially dangerous content. The vulnerability highlights the importance of module security auditing in open-source content management systems, where third-party modules may introduce significant security risks if not properly maintained and validated against established security standards and best practices.