CVE-2009-3652 in Organic Groups
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Organic Groups (OG) 5.x-7.x before 5.x-7.4, 5.x-8.x before 5.x-8.1, and 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.4, a module for Drupal, allows remote authenticated users, with create or edit group nodes permissions, to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the User-Agent HTTP header, a different issue than CVE-2008-3095.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-3652 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Organic Groups module for Drupal, affecting versions prior to specific security patches. This issue manifests when authenticated users with appropriate permissions attempt to create or edit group nodes, enabling them to inject malicious scripts through the User-Agent HTTP header. The vulnerability operates as a server-side XSS attack, where the malicious code is stored and subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected group nodes. The attack vector specifically targets the User-Agent header, which is commonly processed by web applications for logging, analytics, or user agent detection purposes, making it a particularly insidious attack method that leverages legitimate application functionality for malicious purposes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization within the Organic Groups module's processing of HTTP headers. When the module processes the User-Agent header during group node creation or editing operations, it fails to properly escape or validate the input before storing it in the database or rendering it in web pages. This allows attackers to inject HTML tags, JavaScript code, or other malicious content that will execute when other users view the affected content. The vulnerability is classified as a server-side XSS attack because the malicious payload is stored on the server and executed when legitimate users access the affected pages, rather than requiring direct interaction with the vulnerable application during the initial request. This characteristic makes the attack more persistent and potentially more damaging than client-side XSS vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the Drupal environment. An attacker with create or edit group node permissions can craft malicious User-Agent headers that, when processed by the vulnerable module, can compromise other users who view the affected group content. This creates a significant risk for organizations using Drupal with Organic Groups, particularly in environments where group management is shared among multiple users or where administrative privileges are distributed. The vulnerability affects both the 5.x and 6.x branches of Drupal, indicating a widespread issue that would require coordinated patching across multiple versions of the CMS. The fact that this vulnerability is distinct from CVE-2008-3095 suggests it operates through a different code path or input handling mechanism, making it important for security teams to understand the specific attack surface and remediation requirements.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected Drupal installations, ensuring that all instances of the Organic Groups module are updated to versions 5.x-7.4, 5.x-8.1, or 6.x-1.4 and later. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as input validation and output escaping for HTTP headers, particularly those that are not directly user-facing but are processed by application logic. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes Cross-site Scripting flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of their Drupal installations to identify all instances of the Organic Groups module and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities, while regular security assessments and code reviews can help identify other potential XSS attack vectors within the application ecosystem.