CVE-2010-2010 in CTools
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Chaos Tool Suite (aka CTools) module 6.x before 6.x-1.4 for Drupal allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a node title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2019
The Chaos Tool Suite module for Drupal represents a critical component that provides various utility functions and administrative interfaces for managing Drupal websites. This module serves as a foundational toolset that supports numerous other contributed modules and core Drupal functionality, making its security paramount to overall website integrity. The vulnerability affects the specific version range of 6.x before 6.x-1.4, indicating that this issue was present in the widely used Drupal 6.x series but was subsequently addressed in the 1.4 release. The nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the category of cross-site scripting attacks that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring any authentication or privileged access to the target system.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the node title handling mechanisms of the CTools module. When Drupal processes node titles that contain malicious script code, the system fails to properly escape or filter the input before rendering it in web pages. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that gets executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit pages containing these compromised node titles. The vulnerability specifically targets the node title parameter which is commonly used throughout Drupal's content management system and is frequently displayed in various user interfaces including administrative panels, content lists, and public-facing pages. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be classified under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft or defacement. When exploited, these XSS vulnerabilities can enable attackers to steal user sessions, redirect visitors to malicious sites, modify content displayed to users, or even escalate privileges within the Drupal environment. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target server or network. Users who visit pages containing malicious node titles will have their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to complete session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further compromise of the web application. The vulnerability affects all Drupal installations using the affected CTools module version, making it particularly dangerous as it could impact numerous websites simultaneously. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript' and T1566.001 for 'Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment' as attackers could use the XSS to create malicious web pages that appear legitimate to users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of the CTools module to version 6.x-1.4 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization fixes. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all Drupal installations using affected module versions and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. Additional protective measures include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, regular monitoring of website content for malicious injections, and educating administrators about the importance of keeping all Drupal modules updated. The security community should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns that may indicate XSS attempts. Given the widespread use of Drupal 6.x systems, organizations should also evaluate their overall security posture and consider migration to supported Drupal versions that receive regular security updates and patches. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the potential for seemingly minor input validation flaws to create significant security risks in web applications.