CVE-2011-3373 in Views Builk Operations Module
Summary
by MITRE
Drupal Views Builk Operations (VBO) module 6.x-1.0 through 6.x-1.10 does not properly escape the vocabulary help when the vocabulary has had user tagging enabled and the "Modify node taxonomy terms" action is used. A remote attacker could provide a specially-crafted URL that could lead to cross-site scripting (XSS) attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3373 affects the Drupal Views Bulk Operations module version 6.x-1.0 through 6.x-1.10, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that exploits improper output escaping mechanisms within the module's handling of taxonomy vocabulary help text. This vulnerability specifically manifests when user tagging is enabled for a vocabulary and the "Modify node taxonomy terms" action is executed, creating a vector for malicious attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into vulnerable Drupal installations.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the VBO module's processing of taxonomy vocabulary help text. When the module processes user-generated content or configuration data related to taxonomy terms, it fails to properly escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript markup. This improper escaping occurs specifically during the rendering of help text associated with vocabularies that have user tagging enabled, allowing attackers to craft malicious URLs that contain XSS payloads within the vocabulary help parameters. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, making it a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability that can be exploited through web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for Drupal 6 installations using the Views Bulk Operations module, as remote attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts in the context of any user visiting affected pages. The attack requires a specially-crafted URL that includes malicious payloads within the vocabulary help text parameters, which are then rendered without proper sanitization in the browser. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to steal user sessions, modify content, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on Drupal's taxonomy management features where user tagging is enabled, as it creates a persistent attack surface that can be exploited across multiple user sessions and interactions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3373 include immediate patching of the Views Bulk Operations module to version 6.x-1.11 or later, which contains the necessary output escaping fixes. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and output sanitization measures, including the use of Drupal's built-in sanitization functions when processing user-generated content. Network administrators should monitor for suspicious URL patterns and consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious XSS payloads. Additionally, security teams should review and restrict user permissions for taxonomy vocabulary management to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper output escaping in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation of web application vulnerabilities through cross-site scripting attacks.