CVE-2010-1536 in AddThis
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the AddThis Button module 5.x before 5.x-2.2 and 6.x before 6.x-2.9 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users, with administer addthis privileges, to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2019
The CVE-2010-1536 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the AddThis Button module for Drupal content management systems. This vulnerability specifically affects versions 5.x prior to 5.x-2.2 and 6.x prior to 6.x-2.9, creating a significant security risk for Drupal installations that utilize this module. The flaw allows authenticated users with administrator privileges to execute malicious code through unspecified vectors, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages legitimate administrative access to compromise system integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the AddThis module's implementation. When administrators interact with the module's administrative interface, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. This omission creates an XSS attack vector that can be exploited by malicious actors who have already gained administrative access to a Drupal site. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software implementations. The attack requires minimal privileges, only administrative access to the AddThis module, making it particularly concerning for organizations where administrative access is not tightly controlled.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2010-1536 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. An attacker with administrator privileges can inject malicious scripts that can persistently compromise the site and potentially spread to other users. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive administrative credentials, and manipulate content in ways that could severely damage an organization's digital presence. The attack can be executed through the module's administrative interface, making it difficult to detect as the malicious code originates from what appears to be legitimate administrative activity. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it allows for arbitrary code execution through web-based interfaces.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to patched versions of the AddThis module, implementing proper input validation measures, and conducting comprehensive security audits of their Drupal installations. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to versions 5.x-2.2 or 6.x-2.9, which contain the necessary security patches. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls, establishing stricter access controls for administrative modules, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. Security teams should also monitor for signs of exploitation through log analysis and implement proper output encoding to prevent similar issues in other parts of their web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party modules and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against privilege-based attacks.