CVE-2009-4043 in AddToAny
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the AddToAny module 5.x before 5.x-2.4 and 6.x before 6.x-2.4 for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a node title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2019
The CVE-2009-4043 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the AddToAny module for Drupal content management systems. This vulnerability affects versions 5.x prior to 5.x-2.4 and 6.x prior to 6.x-2.4, creating a significant security risk for Drupal websites that utilize this module. The flaw specifically resides in how the module processes node titles, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content through crafted input fields.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the AddToAny module's handling of node title data. When a user submits a node with a specially crafted title containing malicious script code, the module fails to properly sanitize or escape this input before rendering it on web pages. This omission creates an environment where attacker-controlled content can be executed in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.008 for script injection attacks targeting web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains targeting Drupal websites. An attacker could leverage this flaw to steal administrator sessions, modify content, redirect users to malicious sites, or even establish persistent backdoors through more advanced exploitation techniques. The affected module's widespread use across Drupal installations means that numerous websites were potentially at risk, particularly those that allowed user-generated content submission through node creation forms. Organizations running vulnerable versions faced significant exposure since the attack vector required minimal privileges and could be executed through standard web interface interactions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4043 involve immediate patching of the AddToAny module to versions 5.x-2.4 or 6.x-2.4 respectively, which contain proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Security administrators should also implement additional protective measures such as content security policies, regular security audits of contributed modules, and input validation enforcement at multiple layers of the application architecture. Organizations without immediate patching capabilities should consider disabling the vulnerable module entirely or implementing web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the critical need for thorough security reviews of all third-party modules in CMS environments, particularly those handling user input through web forms.