CVE-2009-4557 in Img Assist
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Image Assist module 5.x-1.x before 5.x-1.8, 5.x-2.x before 2.0-alpha4, 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.1, 6.x-2.x before 2.0-alpha4, and 6.x-3.x-dev before 2009-07-15, a module for Drupal, allows remote authenticated users, with image-node creation privileges, to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a node title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2017
The CVE-2009-4557 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Image Assist module for Drupal content management systems. This vulnerability affects multiple version branches including 5.x-1.x, 5.x-2.x, 6.x-1.x, 6.x-2.x, and 6.x-3.x development versions prior to specific release points. The flaw exists in how the module processes node titles during image node creation operations, creating an avenue for malicious code injection that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization within the Image Assist module's node title handling mechanism. When authenticated users with appropriate privileges create image nodes, the module fails to properly escape or validate special characters in the node title field. This allows attackers to inject malicious javascript payloads or html content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected nodes. The vulnerability specifically targets the node title field which is often displayed prominently in Drupal's user interface, making it an attractive target for exploitation. This weakness aligns with CWE-79, which classifies cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a result of inadequate input validation and output encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, creating significant risks for Drupal installations that rely on the Image Assist module. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface content management interfaces, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only image-node creation privileges, which many content editors and administrators possess, making exploitation relatively accessible within compromised environments. According to ATT&CK framework methodology, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing via Social Engineering) and T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) as it enables attackers to execute malicious javascript code through user interaction with affected content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4557 require immediate patching of the Image Assist module to versions 5.x-1.8, 2.0-alpha4, 6.x-1.1, 2.0-alpha4, and the specified development release date. System administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation at multiple levels, output encoding for all dynamic content, and regular security audits of contributed modules. The vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping Drupal core and all contributed modules updated, as well as implementing proper privilege management to limit access to sensitive module functions. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future.