CVE-2010-1530 in I18n
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Internationalization module 6.x before 6.x-1.4 for Drupal allow remote authenticated users, with translate interface or administer blocks privileges, to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) strings used in block translation or (2) the untranslated input.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1530 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Internationalization module of Drupal version 6.x prior to 6.x-1.4. This security weakness specifically targets the module's handling of user input during translation processes, creating opportunities for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of affected websites. The vulnerability affects authenticated users who possess either translate interface or administer blocks privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have administrative capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization within the Internationalization module's translation handling mechanisms. When users with appropriate privileges translate block content or enter untranslated input, the system fails to properly escape or filter potentially malicious script code that may be embedded within the translated strings. This inadequate sanitization allows attackers to inject javascript code, html tags, or other malicious payloads that execute in the browsers of other users who view the affected translated content. The flaw operates at the application layer, specifically within the user interface translation subsystem where user-generated content is processed and displayed.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations running Drupal websites with internationalization features enabled. The impact extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as successful exploitation could lead to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or the complete compromise of user accounts. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain persistent access to sensitive information, manipulate content, or redirect users to malicious sites. The requirement for authenticated access with specific privileges does not diminish the threat level, as compromised accounts with these permissions could provide attackers with substantial control over website content and user data.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to the patched version 6.x-1.4 of the Internationalization module or applying the relevant security patches provided by the Drupal security team. Additionally, administrators should review and restrict user privileges to minimize the attack surface, ensuring that only trusted personnel have translate interface or administer blocks permissions. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual translation activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a technique commonly catalogued in the ATT&CK framework under web application attacks where input validation weaknesses are exploited to execute malicious code in user browsers. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the patched module to ensure no regression issues affect existing functionality while maintaining the security improvements.