CVE-2009-3156 in Date
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Date Tools sub-module in the Date module 6.x before 6.x-2.3 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users, with "use date tools" or "administer content types" privileges, to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a "Content type label" field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2025
The CVE-2009-3156 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Date Tools sub-module of Drupal's Date module version 6.x prior to 6.x-2.3. This vulnerability specifically targets authenticated users who possess either the "use date tools" permission or the "administer content types" privilege, creating a significant security risk for Drupal-based web applications. The flaw resides in how the system processes and renders the "Content type label" field, which serves as an entry point for malicious script injection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Date Tools module. When authenticated users with sufficient privileges create or modify content types, the system fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied data entered into the Content type label field. This oversight allows attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected content. The vulnerability operates as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious payload is stored and then served back to users without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-3156 extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious domains. Given that the vulnerability requires only basic user privileges, it presents an accessible attack vector for malicious actors who can escalate their access within the Drupal environment. The affected Drupal 6.x versions were widely deployed across numerous websites, amplifying the potential damage scope of this vulnerability. This flaw particularly affects content management systems where users with limited privileges could still compromise the overall security posture through this XSS vector.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Drupal Date module version 6.x-2.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation gaps. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, and regular input sanitization should be enforced across all user-editable fields. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this represents a technique categorized under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, potentially enabling further compromise through persistent XSS payloads that could establish backdoors or exfiltrate data from victim browsers.