CVE-2009-4119 in Feed Element Mapper
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Feed Element Mapper module 5.x before 5.x-1.3, 6.x before 6.x-1.3, and 6.x-2.0-alpha before 6.x-2.0-alpha4 for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2017
The CVE-2009-4119 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Feed Element Mapper module for Drupal content management systems. This vulnerability affects multiple versions including 5.x prior to 5.x-1.3, 6.x prior to 6.x-1.3, and 6.x-2.0-alpha prior to 6.x-2.0-alpha4, making it a widespread issue across several Drupal release lines. The vulnerability specifically resides in how the module processes and handles input data from RSS feeds, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of user sessions.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Feed Element Mapper module. When Drupal processes RSS feed data through this module, the application fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied content before rendering it on web pages. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that can execute in the browsers of unsuspecting users who view the affected pages. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability can be exploited through multiple entry points within the feed processing functionality, potentially including feed item titles, descriptions, or other metadata fields.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to Drupal installations that utilize the Feed Element Mapper module. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, deface websites, or redirect users to malicious domains. The impact extends beyond individual site compromise as compromised sites can serve as launch points for broader attacks against users or other connected systems. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple Drupal versions indicates a fundamental flaw in the module's design that required multiple release cycles to address properly.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique for code injection, specifically targeting web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Drupal installations, ensuring all versions are updated to the patched releases mentioned in the CVE description. Additionally, implementing proper input validation at multiple layers, including web application firewalls and content security policies, can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should include thorough examination of contributed modules, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party components in CMS environments.