CVE-2010-1976 in Taxonomy Breadcrumb
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Taxonomy Breadcrumb module 6.x before 6.x-1.1 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users, with administer taxonomy permissions, to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the node title in a Breadcrumb display.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2018
The CVE-2010-1976 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Taxonomy Breadcrumb module for Drupal version 6.x prior to 6.x-1.1. This vulnerability specifically targets the breadcrumb display functionality that generates navigation paths for taxonomy terms and nodes within the Drupal content management system. The flaw exists in how the module processes and renders node titles within breadcrumb trails, creating an avenue for malicious code injection that can be exploited by authenticated users with specific administrative privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated user possessing the "administer taxonomy" permission manipulates node titles that appear within breadcrumb displays. The module fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before rendering it in the breadcrumb navigation element, allowing malicious scripts to be injected into the page output. This occurs because the module directly incorporates user-supplied node title data into the HTML breadcrumb structure without appropriate input validation or output encoding mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires only authentication and specific permission levels rather than elevated privileges, making it accessible to users who can create or modify taxonomy terms and nodes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of the victim's browser session. This capability can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of content, or redirection to malicious sites. The attack vector is particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where administrators or content creators might unknowingly create malicious node titles that propagate through breadcrumb displays to other users. The vulnerability affects all users who view pages containing taxonomy breadcrumbs, potentially compromising numerous users within a single Drupal installation without requiring additional authentication or privilege escalation.
Security professionals should note this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application vulnerability that can be exploited through user input manipulation and session hijacking techniques. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched version 6.x-1.1 of the Taxonomy Breadcrumb module, implementing proper input validation for all user-supplied content, and establishing content review processes for taxonomy terms and node titles. Additional protective measures include restricting unnecessary administrative permissions, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting regular security audits of contributed modules. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input sanitization in web applications and serves as a reminder of the potential risks posed by third-party modules in content management systems.