CVE-2009-4525 in Print
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Print (aka Printer, e-mail and PDF versions) module 5.x before 5.x-4.9 and 6.x before 6.x-1.9, a module for Drupal, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted data in a list of links.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2019
The CVE-2009-4525 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Print module for Drupal content management systems. This vulnerability affects Drupal versions 5.x prior to 5.x-4.9 and 6.x prior to 6.x-1.9, making it a significant security concern for organizations relying on these older Drupal versions. The flaw resides in how the module handles user-provided data when generating printable versions of web pages, including email and PDF formats. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web page content. This weakness allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the affected systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when malicious actors craft specially formatted lists of links containing embedded script code that gets processed by the Print module. When the module generates the printable version of a page, it fails to adequately sanitize or escape the user-provided link data before rendering it in the output. This allows attackers to inject HTML tags, JavaScript code, or other malicious content that executes when users view the generated print versions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through legitimate user interactions with the website's content management features, making it difficult to distinguish between benign and malicious input. The attack vector involves an attacker submitting crafted link data through the web interface, which is then stored and later rendered in the print module's output, creating a persistent XSS vector.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4525 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the context of affected users' browser sessions. When users access the vulnerable print versions of web pages, the injected scripts can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or modify content displayed to the user. This vulnerability directly maps to several techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1566 for initial access through spearphishing and T1059 for command and control through script injection. Organizations running affected Drupal versions face risks of data breaches, credential theft, and potential complete compromise of their web applications. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for sites that allow user-generated content or have administrative interfaces where users might submit link data that gets processed by the print module.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4525 primarily involve immediate patching of the affected Drupal installations to the recommended versions that contain the security fixes. Organizations should upgrade to Drupal 5.x-4.9 or 6.x-1.9 and later versions where the Print module properly sanitizes user input before rendering it in printable formats. Additionally, administrators should implement input validation and output encoding measures at the application level, ensuring that all user-provided data is properly escaped before being processed by the print module. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth, though they should not replace proper code-level fixes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper input sanitization practices in web application development, aligning with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-160 and OWASP Top Ten security guidelines. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their Drupal installations to identify other potential vulnerabilities in related modules and ensure comprehensive protection against similar XSS attack vectors.