CVE-2009-3648 in Service Links
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Service Links 6.x-1.0, a module for Drupal, allows remote authenticated users, with administer content types permissions, to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors when displaying content type names.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3648 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Service Links module version 6.x-1.0 for the Drupal content management system. This security weakness specifically affects authenticated users who possess the administrative permission to manage content types, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on Drupal platforms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the module's handling of content type names during display operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users with appropriate permissions manipulate content type names through the administrative interface. These malicious inputs are then rendered without proper sanitization in the web browser context, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code or HTML content. The unspecified vectors suggest that the flaw may exist across multiple input points within the module's processing logic, making it particularly challenging to predict and mitigate completely. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to potentially hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or perform unauthorized actions within the Drupal environment. An attacker with content type administration privileges can leverage this flaw to execute malicious code in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to complete system compromise if users have elevated permissions. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the web application's data handling processes, as it allows unauthorized code execution in legitimate user sessions.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the Service Links module, applying the latest Drupal security releases, and implementing proper input validation measures. Network segmentation and privilege least privilege principles should be enforced to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for phishing, highlighting the potential for attackers to use this flaw as part of broader exploitation campaigns. Regular security auditing and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other Drupal modules and custom code implementations.