CVE-2010-2030 in External Link Page
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the External Link Page module 5.x before 5.x-1.0 and 6.x before 6.x-1.2 for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to the administration and redirect pages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2030 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the External Link Page module for Drupal content management systems. This security weakness affects versions 5.x prior to 5.x-1.0 and 6.x prior to 6.x-1.2, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to compromise user sessions and execute unauthorized code. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the administration and redirect pages of the module, where input validation mechanisms fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data. This flaw falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when administrators or users interact with the module's administrative interfaces or redirect functionality without proper input sanitization. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that contain script tags or other HTML content, which then get executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit affected pages. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and the potential for more sophisticated attacks such as CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) exploitation. The attack vector leverages the module's failure to properly validate and escape user inputs before rendering them in web pages, creating an environment where malicious code can persist and execute within the context of legitimate user sessions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to Drupal-based websites that utilize the External Link Page module, particularly those handling sensitive user data or administrative functions. The attack surface is expanded when the module is used in conjunction with other Drupal components, as the XSS payload can potentially be used to escalate privileges or gain deeper access to the system. Organizations running affected versions face the risk of data breaches, unauthorized access to administrative panels, and potential compromise of entire web applications. The vulnerability's persistence in the redirect functionality means that even users who navigate through external links may be exposed to malicious code execution, making it particularly dangerous for public-facing websites that rely heavily on external link handling.
The recommended mitigations for CVE-2010-2030 include immediate upgrading to patched versions of the External Link Page module, which would address the input validation deficiencies and implement proper sanitization techniques. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution, input validation at multiple layers, and regular security audits of third-party modules. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust security practices within web application development. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1059.007 (Scripting) and T1566 (Phishing), as it enables attackers to deliver malicious scripts through web interfaces and potentially compromise user sessions through credential theft or session hijacking. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious input patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation of similar vulnerabilities.