CVE-2010-2002 in Wordfilter
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Wordfilter module 5.x before 5.x-1.1 and 6.x before 6.x-1.1 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users, with "administer words filtered" privileges, to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the word list.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2019
The CVE-2010-2002 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Wordfilter module of Drupal content management systems. This vulnerability specifically affects Drupal versions 5.x prior to 5.x-1.1 and 6.x prior to 6.x-1.1, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these older versions. The flaw resides in how the module processes user input within the word list functionality, which is typically used to filter or replace inappropriate content in user-generated text. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authenticated access with specific administrative privileges, making it exploitable by users who already have elevated permissions within the system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization within the Wordfilter module's processing of word lists. When administrators configure filtered words or phrases through the module's interface, the system fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied content before rendering it back to users. This allows malicious actors with "administer words filtered" permissions to inject malicious scripts or HTML code directly into the word list entries. The vulnerability manifests when the system displays these filtered word configurations to other users, executing the injected code in their browsers. This represents a classic reflected cross-site scripting scenario where the malicious payload is stored in the application's database and executed when legitimate users view the filtered content.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2002 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive user data and session information. When exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to steal cookies, session tokens, and potentially escalate privileges within the Drupal environment. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate administrative functionality, making it harder to detect through standard security monitoring. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in input validation and output encoding. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1566 for credential access through social engineering, as attackers could use the XSS to capture user credentials or redirect them to malicious sites.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability must implement immediate mitigations to protect their Drupal installations. The primary and most effective solution involves upgrading to patched versions of the Wordfilter module, specifically versions 5.x-1.1 and 6.x-1.1. Additionally, administrators should review and restrict permissions for the "administer words filtered" role, limiting access to only trusted personnel. Input validation should be enhanced through custom code modifications that properly escape all user-supplied content before storage and rendering. Security monitoring should include scanning for unusual patterns in word list modifications and implementing content security policies to prevent script execution. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining updated security practices and regularly auditing administrative permissions within CMS environments, as this type of flaw demonstrates how privileged access can be weaponized to compromise entire systems. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other modules or components of their Drupal installations.