CVE-2009-3916 in Nodehierarchy
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Node Hierarchy module 5.x before 5.x-1.3 and 6.x before 6.x-1.3, a module for Drupal, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a child node title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2019
The CVE-2009-3916 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Node Hierarchy module for Drupal content management systems. This vulnerability affects versions 5.x prior to 5.x-1.3 and 6.x prior to 6.x-1.3, making it a significant security concern for organizations relying on older Drupal installations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the module's handling of node hierarchy data, specifically when processing child node titles. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that gets reflected back to users without proper sanitization, creating a persistent vector for malicious code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the application layer where the Node Hierarchy module fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied data when rendering node titles in hierarchical views. When a user creates or modifies a child node title containing malicious script code, the module stores this data without adequate sanitization. Subsequently, when other users view the node hierarchy, the unescaped script code gets executed in their browsers, providing attackers with the ability to perform actions on behalf of victims. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a weakness in input validation and output encoding. The flaw specifically manifests as a reflected XSS attack where malicious payloads are injected through node title fields and executed in the context of other users' browsing sessions.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-3916 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with potential access to user sessions, data theft capabilities, and privilege escalation opportunities. An attacker could craft malicious node titles that, when viewed by administrators or other privileged users, could steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute arbitrary commands within the victim's browser context. This vulnerability particularly affects Drupal installations that utilize the Node Hierarchy module for content organization and management, potentially compromising entire content management systems if not properly addressed. The attack vector is remote and requires no special privileges, making it especially dangerous for public-facing websites where users can create or modify content. Organizations using affected Drupal versions face significant risk of unauthorized access and data compromise, with potential impacts ranging from defacement to complete system takeover.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-3916 require immediate attention through software updates and defensive coding practices. The primary solution involves upgrading to patched versions of the Node Hierarchy module, specifically versions 5.x-1.3 and 6.x-1.3 or later, which implement proper input validation and output encoding. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, employ web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conduct regular security audits of their Drupal installations. Additionally, administrators should review user permissions and implement proper input sanitization at multiple layers of the application stack. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for application layer attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other Drupal modules and ensure comprehensive protection against similar cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.