CVE-2009-4042 in RootCandy
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the RootCandy theme 6.x before 6.x-1.5 for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2019
The CVE-2009-4042 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the RootCandy theme for Drupal version 6.x prior to 6.x-1.5. This vulnerability exposes web applications to malicious code injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The flaw specifically resides in how the theme handles URI parameters, creating an exploitable vector for remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user browsers. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and demonstrates the fundamental security weakness in input validation and output encoding practices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the RootCandy theme fails to properly sanitize or escape URI parameters before rendering them in web pages. Attackers can craft malicious URIs containing script tags or other HTML content that gets executed when users navigate to affected pages. This occurs because the theme does not implement proper input validation mechanisms or output encoding techniques to prevent malicious content from being interpreted as executable code. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no privileged access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through social engineering or automated scanning tools.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially allowing attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive user information, or redirect users to malicious sites. When users visit pages using the vulnerable theme, their browsers execute the injected scripts, which can capture cookies, redirect to phishing sites, or modify page content. This vulnerability affects the entire Drupal 6.x ecosystem using the RootCandy theme, creating widespread exposure across numerous websites that fail to implement proper security patches. The attack surface is particularly broad as it can be triggered through various navigation paths that utilize URI parameters.
Security mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4042 primarily involve immediate patching of the RootCandy theme to version 6.x-1.5 or later, which contains the necessary input validation and output encoding fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that sanitize all URI parameters before processing, utilize proper output encoding techniques for web content, and deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar flaws in other themes or modules, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices. The remediation process should also include user education regarding the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping all software components updated. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers leverage web scripting to execute malicious code within user browsers, highlighting the necessity of robust defensive measures against client-side attacks.