CVE-2009-3157 in Calendar
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Calendar module 6.x before 6.x-2.2 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users, with "create new content types" privileges, to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the title of a content type.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3157 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Calendar module for Drupal version 6.x prior to 6.x-2.2. This issue specifically affects authenticated users who possess the privilege to create new content types within the Drupal content management system. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the module's handling of content type titles, creating an avenue for malicious script injection attacks.
The technical flaw manifests when an authenticated user with appropriate permissions submits a content type title containing malicious script code. The Calendar module fails to properly sanitize this input before rendering it in the web interface, allowing the injected script to execute within the context of other users' browsers. This vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The attack vector specifically targets the title field of content types, making it particularly insidious as content type titles are often prominently displayed throughout the Drupal administrative interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker could craft malicious content type titles that, when viewed by other users, would execute scripts designed to capture cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject additional malicious content into the affected Drupal installation. This vulnerability particularly threatens organizations relying on Drupal for content management, as it allows privilege escalation through the creation of malicious content types that can affect other users within the same administrative environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-3157 involve immediate patching of the Calendar module to version 6.x-2.2 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms. Organizations should also implement strict input validation policies for all user-submitted content, particularly in administrative interfaces where privileged users can create content. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting the "create new content types" permission to only essential administrative users. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security audits of Drupal modules can help identify similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.006 for script injection and T1566 for credential access through web application vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for comprehensive web application security measures.