CVE-2010-3022 in Devel module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Performance logging module in the Devel module 5.x before 5.x-1.3 and 6.x before 6.x-1.21 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users, with add url aliases and report access permissions, to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted node paths in a URL.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2018
The CVE-2010-3022 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Devel module for Drupal platforms, specifically affecting versions 5.x prior to 5.x-1.3 and 6.x prior to 6.x-1.21. This vulnerability exists within the Performance logging module component of the Devel module, which is commonly used by developers and site administrators for debugging and performance monitoring purposes. The flaw enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code through crafted node paths in URLs, creating a significant security risk for Drupal installations that utilize this development tool.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess specific permissions within the Drupal system, namely the ability to add URL aliases and access reporting functionality. This permission requirement places the vulnerability in a unique category where authenticated users with legitimate administrative privileges can be coerced or compromised to carry out malicious activities. The flaw occurs when the system fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input from node paths, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that will execute in the context of other users' browsers. This particular implementation issue stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the Performance logging functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3022 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can potentially enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and redirection to malicious websites. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the performance logging data displayed to administrators, potentially obscuring legitimate performance issues while hiding malicious activities. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate administrative functionality, making it difficult to detect through standard security monitoring. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which describes Cross-site Scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for the initial access phase through malicious web content. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the available patches provided by the Drupal security team, which address the input sanitization issues within the Devel module's Performance logging component. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious script injection attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patched versions to ensure that legitimate development functionality remains intact while eliminating the XSS vulnerability. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in URL alias creation and performance logging activities, as these may indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. Regular security audits should also verify that users with add URL aliases and report access permissions are properly vetted and that privilege escalation paths are minimized to prevent unauthorized exploitation.