CVE-2009-3121 in Ajaxtable
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Ajax Table module 5.x for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2019
The CVE-2009-3121 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Ajax Table module version 5.x for the Drupal content management system. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security issues. The flaw specifically affects the Ajax Table module, a component designed to enhance user interface functionality by enabling dynamic table manipulation through asynchronous javascript calls. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Ajax Table module's handling of user-supplied data. When the module processes table data or user interactions, it fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or javascript code. This oversight creates an opportunity for attackers to craft malicious payloads that will be executed in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected content. The unspecified vectors indicate that the vulnerability could be exploited through multiple entry points within the module's functionality, including form submissions, table parameter manipulation, or dynamic content loading mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web content, and redirection to malicious sites. Users who interact with the affected Drupal site could unknowingly execute malicious code that persists in their browser sessions, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information or administrative functions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, making it difficult to detect and prevent. Attackers could exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, modify content, or even escalate privileges within the Drupal system, depending on the user's role and permissions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-3121 should prioritize immediate patching of the Ajax Table module to the latest secure version that addresses the input validation and output encoding issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including the use of proper HTML escaping and character encoding techniques for all user-supplied data. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that the module's functionality is restricted to authorized users only, and additional security headers such as Content Security Policy should be implemented to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other Drupal modules and the core application. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly those related to input validation and output encoding. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1203 technique of Exploitation for Client Execution, emphasizing the need for layered defensive measures including web application firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and user education about suspicious web interactions.