CVE-2008-6835 in OpenID
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in OpenID 5.x before 5.x-1.2, a module for Drupal, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/16/2018
The CVE-2008-6835 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the OpenID module for Drupal version 5.x prior to 5.x-1.2. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security weaknesses. The OpenID module serves as an authentication framework that allows users to log into Drupal sites using external identity providers, making it a critical component in the site's security infrastructure. The vulnerability's existence in a core authentication module significantly amplifies its potential impact across the Drupal ecosystem.
The technical nature of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the OpenID module's processing of user-supplied data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that get executed in the context of other users' browsers when they interact with the vulnerable Drupal site. The unspecified vectors suggest that the flaw may manifest through multiple entry points including but not limited to user profile fields, session data, or authentication response parameters. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML code, potentially enabling them to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete compromise of user accounts and potentially the entire Drupal installation. When users authenticate through the vulnerable OpenID module, their browsers execute malicious scripts that can hijack sessions, modify content, or redirect traffic to phishing sites. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where the OpenID module is widely used for authentication, as it can affect numerous sites simultaneously. The attack surface is broad since OpenID authentication is commonly implemented across various web platforms and services, making the exploitation potential for this vulnerability significant. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1566 (Phishing) techniques, as it enables attackers to execute malicious scripts and potentially establish initial access through social engineering.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the patch released in OpenID module version 5.x-1.2, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. The mitigation strategy should also involve thorough input validation of all user-supplied data and implementation of Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other modules or components that may be susceptible to similar XSS vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include monitoring for suspicious activities and user sessions, as well as implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing proper security headers and input validation at multiple layers to ensure defense in depth against similar vulnerabilities in the future.