CVE-2009-4064 in Gallery Assist module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Gallery Assist module 6.x before 6.x-1.7 for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via node titles.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2017
The CVE-2009-4064 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Gallery Assist module for Drupal version 6.x prior to 6.x-1.7. This vulnerability specifically targets the module's handling of node titles, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected websites. The flaw exists in the sanitization and output rendering mechanisms of the Gallery Assist module, which fails to properly validate or escape user-supplied input before displaying it in web pages. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input filtering that allows attackers to inject malicious payloads through node title fields, which are then rendered without proper security measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows established patterns for XSS attacks within content management systems, where user input is not adequately sanitized before being displayed to other users. In Drupal's case, the Gallery Assist module processes node titles and displays them in various contexts throughout the user interface, including administrative panels and public-facing pages. When an attacker submits a node title containing malicious script tags or HTML code, the module's insufficient sanitization allows this content to be executed in the browsers of other users who view the affected pages. This vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper validation or escaping, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4064 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web content, and redirection to malicious sites. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal user sessions, access sensitive administrative functions, or manipulate displayed content to mislead users. The vulnerability affects the entire Drupal 6.x ecosystem where the Gallery Assist module is installed, potentially compromising multiple websites simultaneously. The attack vector requires minimal privileges as the vulnerability is accessible to unauthenticated users who can simply create or modify node titles, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where content creation is not properly restricted.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of the Gallery Assist module to version 6.x-1.7 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation at multiple levels, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly escaped before being rendered in web pages. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and updates, as well as implementing proper access controls and user privilege management to limit the potential impact of such flaws. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output escaping practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploiting weaknesses in input validation and T1566 for social engineering through malicious content delivery.