CVE-2010-2048 in Heartbeat
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Heartbeat module 6.x before 6.x-4.9 for Drupal allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2019
The CVE-2010-2048 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Heartbeat module for Drupal version 6.x prior to 6.x-4.9. This vulnerability affects the core web application framework's ability to properly sanitize user input, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of affected users' browsers. The Heartbeat module, designed to provide real-time updates and notifications within Drupal environments, inadvertently introduced a security gap that could be exploited by authenticated users with minimal privileges. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly handle potentially malicious data submitted through the module's interface.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when authenticated users submit content or parameters that are subsequently rendered without adequate sanitization. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple entry points within the Heartbeat module's codebase could be exploited, potentially including form submissions, API endpoints, or administrative interfaces. Attackers could craft malicious payloads that would execute in the browsers of other users who interact with the compromised content, leading to session hijacking, data theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability specifically targets the module's handling of user-provided data that gets rendered in web pages, creating a persistent threat vector that could be leveraged for broader attacks within the Drupal ecosystem.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2048 extends beyond simple script injection, as authenticated users can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and compromise entire Drupal installations. When combined with other vulnerabilities or used in conjunction with social engineering tactics, this XSS flaw could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions, modify content, or steal sensitive information from authenticated sessions. The vulnerability affects organizations running Drupal 6.x installations that have not updated to version 6.x-4.9 or later, leaving them exposed to potential exploitation by threat actors who may already have legitimate access to the system through legitimate user accounts. This creates a significant risk for organizations where user accounts are not properly managed or where privilege escalation is possible.
Organizations should immediately implement the patch released by Drupal for version 6.x-4.9 which addresses the input validation and output encoding issues within the Heartbeat module. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as content security policies, input validation at multiple layers, and regular security audits of contributed modules. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection attacks. Security teams should also monitor for any related vulnerabilities in other Drupal modules that may share similar input handling patterns, as the exploitation of one module's weakness could potentially lead to compromise of the entire application stack. Regular updates and vulnerability assessments should be implemented as part of the organization's security posture to prevent similar issues from arising in future versions of Drupal or other web applications.