CVE-2010-4521 in Views
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Views module 6.x before 6.x-2.12 for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a page path.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2021
The CVE-2010-4521 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Views module for Drupal 6.x versions prior to 2.12. This vulnerability resides in the module's handling of page paths and exposes Drupal installations to remote code execution risks through malicious script injection. The vulnerability specifically affects the way the Views module processes and renders page path parameters, creating an opportunity for attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's response. Such flaws in content management systems can have cascading effects on entire web applications, particularly when the affected module is widely deployed and utilized across multiple sites. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the user input sanitization mechanisms that should prevent malicious code from being executed within the context of legitimate user sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious page path containing script tags or other malicious HTML content that gets processed by the Views module without proper sanitization. When a victim visits the crafted URL, the malicious script executes in the victim's browser within the context of the vulnerable Drupal site, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. The flaw demonstrates poor security practices in parameter handling and input sanitization, where user-provided data should be properly escaped or validated before being rendered in web pages. The vulnerability also connects to ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers scripting through command and control channels, as the malicious scripts could be used to establish persistent access or exfiltrate data from compromised systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4521 extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to potentially escalate privileges and compromise entire Drupal installations. When combined with other vulnerabilities or social engineering techniques, this XSS flaw could allow attackers to modify content, steal administrator credentials, or redirect users to malicious sites. The widespread adoption of Drupal 6.x at the time of this vulnerability meant that numerous websites were potentially at risk, creating a significant threat surface for cybercriminals. Organizations running affected versions of the Views module faced immediate security risks, as the vulnerability could be exploited without requiring authentication or specialized knowledge of the system internals. The remediation process required immediate patching of the Views module, which often necessitated careful testing to ensure compatibility with existing site configurations and custom implementations.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability. These include immediate patching of the Views module to version 6.x-2.12 or later, implementing proper input validation mechanisms, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security audits of their Drupal installations to identify other potential vulnerabilities and ensure proper configuration of security headers. The vulnerability underscores the importance of keeping content management systems and their modules up to date, as well as implementing robust security monitoring and incident response procedures. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be integrated into the operational security framework to identify similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The incident also highlights the need for proper security training for developers working with Drupal and other content management systems to ensure they understand secure coding practices and input validation techniques.