CVE-2010-4520 in Views
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Views module 6.x before 6.x-2.11 for Drupal allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) a URL or (2) an aggregator feed title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2010-4520 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Drupal Views module version 6.x prior to 6.x-2.11, exposing web applications to persistent remote code execution risks. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically targeting the web application's input validation mechanisms within the content management framework. The flaw exists in how the Views module processes user-supplied data in URL parameters and aggregator feed titles, creating pathways for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct attack vectors that leverage the module's insufficient sanitization of user inputs. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that get executed when the vulnerable Views module renders the page, or they can inject malicious content into aggregator feed titles that are subsequently displayed on Drupal sites. These attack vectors demonstrate a fundamental failure in the application's data validation and output encoding practices, allowing attackers to bypass the platform's security controls and inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that persists across user sessions.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4520 extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user credentials, redirect victims to malicious websites, and potentially escalate privileges within the affected Drupal installations. This vulnerability directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1531 - Account Access Removal and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as compromised users become vectors for further attacks. The widespread adoption of Drupal 6.x at the time of this vulnerability meant that numerous websites were potentially exposed, creating a significant attack surface for threat actors who could leverage this weakness to compromise entire web applications and their associated user bases.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the patch released by the Drupal security team in version 6.x-2.11, which includes enhanced input validation and output sanitization mechanisms. The mitigation strategy should also incorporate additional security measures such as implementing Content Security Policy headers, deploying web application firewalls, and conducting comprehensive security audits of all Drupal modules to ensure no other vulnerabilities exist. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation flaws can create significant security risks in content management systems. This incident underscores the necessity of proper input sanitization practices and the critical role of security reviews in open source software development processes, particularly within frameworks that handle user-generated content and dynamic data rendering.