CVE-2009-4063 in Og Subgroups
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Subgroups for Organic Groups (OG) module 5.x before 5.x-4.0 and 5.x before 5.x-3.4 for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified node titles.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2017
The CVE-2009-4063 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Organic Groups module for Drupal, specifically affecting versions 5.x before 5.x-4.0 and 5.x before 5.x-3.4. This vulnerability resides in the module's handling of node titles, creating an avenue for remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the application's interface. The Organic Groups module serves as a fundamental component for creating and managing group-based content structures within Drupal, making this vulnerability particularly concerning as it could potentially affect numerous Drupal installations relying on group functionality.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the node title processing mechanism. When users create or edit nodes within groups managed by the OG module, the system fails to properly escape or filter special characters in node titles before rendering them in the user interface. This allows attackers to craft malicious titles containing script tags or other HTML elements that execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view these nodes. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and the delivery of additional malicious payloads through persistent or reflected XSS vectors.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to Drupal websites utilizing the Organic Groups module, particularly those with active user communities or collaborative content creation environments. Attackers could exploit this flaw to inject malicious scripts that steal user session cookies, redirect victims to phishing sites, or manipulate group content in ways that compromise data integrity and user trust. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require local access or authentication to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where group members may encounter malicious node titles. Security assessments reveal that the impact can escalate when combined with other vulnerabilities, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to group administrative functions.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through module updates to versions 5.x-4.0 or 5.x-3.4, which contain the necessary patches to address the XSS flaw. Additionally, implementing proper input validation at multiple layers, including content filtering and output escaping mechanisms, provides defense-in-depth protection. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their Drupal installations to identify all instances of the affected OG module and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a common attack vector categorized under ATT&CK technique T1566.1001 for credential access through malicious web content. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future.