CVE-2008-6413 in Answers module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Answers module 5.x-1.x-dev and possibly other 5.x versions, a module for Drupal, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a Simple Answer to a question.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-6413 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Answers module for Drupal version 5.x-1.x-dev and potentially other 5.x releases. This security weakness resides in the module's handling of user input when processing simple answers to questions, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected websites. The vulnerability specifically targets the Answers module's processing of user-provided content, where input validation and sanitization mechanisms fail to properly handle potentially malicious payloads.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic XSS vulnerability. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that includes script tags or other HTML elements when submitting answers through the module's interface. When other users view these answers, the injected code executes in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the context of the vulnerable Drupal installation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to websites utilizing the affected Answers module, particularly those that rely on user-generated content or community features. The remote exploitation capability means attackers do not need local access or authentication to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in public-facing applications. The vulnerability's presence in the 5.x development branch suggests it may have affected multiple versions within that release cycle, potentially leaving numerous Drupal installations exposed. Organizations using this module face the risk of unauthorized access to user sessions, data theft, and potential compromise of the entire web application infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-6413 should prioritize immediate patching of the Answers module to the latest stable release that addresses the XSS vulnerability. System administrators must implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious content from being stored or executed. The principle of least privilege should be applied to restrict user permissions within the Answers module, limiting the scope of potential attacks. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected modules within their Drupal installations, as this vulnerability may indicate broader security gaps in the application's input handling mechanisms. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566, which involves the exploitation of vulnerabilities to gain initial access or execute malicious code within target environments.