CVE-2008-6972 in CCK
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Drupal Content Construction Kit (CCK) 5.x through 5.x-1.8 allow remote authenticated users with "administer content" permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) "field label," (2) "help text," or (3) "allowed values" settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2018
The vulnerability CVE-2008-6972 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within Drupal Content Construction Kit version 5.x through 5.x-1.8 that specifically targets authenticated users possessing administrative privileges. This flaw exists within the core functionality of Drupal CCK module, which serves as a powerful tool for creating custom content types and fields within Drupal content management systems. The vulnerability manifests when administrators manipulate field configuration settings through the administrative interface, creating a pathway for malicious script injection that can compromise the entire Drupal installation and its user base.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through three distinct attack vectors that correspond to specific field configuration parameters. Attackers with "administer content" permissions can inject malicious code into the "field label" field, the "help text" field, or the "allowed values" configuration setting. These parameters are processed and rendered without adequate input sanitization or output encoding, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically leverages the lack of proper validation and sanitization mechanisms in the administrative interface, where user-supplied input is directly incorporated into rendered HTML output without sufficient security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, creating significant risks for Drupal installations that rely on administrative user privileges for content management. When exploited, these XSS vulnerabilities can enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of other users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or even escalate privileges within the Drupal environment. The attack requires only authenticated access with administrative permissions, which is often more accessible than other exploit vectors, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations where administrative accounts are not properly secured or where privilege escalation is possible through other means. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement several mitigation strategies to protect their Drupal installations. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to a patched version of Drupal CCK or the core Drupal platform where these vulnerabilities have been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should enforce strict access controls and privilege management, ensuring that only trusted individuals possess administrative permissions within the Drupal environment. Network-based security controls including web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional layers of protection, though these should not replace proper application-level fixes. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and output encoding practices, which are fundamental requirements in the OWASP Top Ten security standards and align with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution through web interfaces. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and maintain up-to-date security patches to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other components of their web application infrastructure.