CVE-2011-5030 in Meta tags quick
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Meta tags quick module 7.x-2.x before 7.x-2.3 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with certain permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, probably related to "names of entity bundles."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2018
The CVE-2011-5030 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Meta tags quick module for Drupal version 7.x-2.x, specifically affecting versions prior to 7.x-2.3. This vulnerability resides in the content management system's module ecosystem where unauthorized code execution can occur through maliciously crafted input. The flaw manifests when authenticated users with specific permissions attempt to manipulate entity bundle names, creating a pathway for attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data corruption as it enables attackers to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or complete account compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws that occur when untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. In this case, the vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of entity bundle names within the Meta tags quick module's processing pipeline. When users with appropriate permissions create or modify content types, the module fails to properly escape or validate the input data, allowing malicious scripts to persist in the database and subsequently execute when the content is rendered to other users. The unspecified vectors suggest that the flaw may be triggered through various pathways within the module's administrative interface, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can identify multiple attack surfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-5030 extends significantly beyond traditional web application vulnerabilities, as it allows for persistent malicious code execution within a Drupal environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts that can harvest user credentials, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The fact that this affects users with specific permissions means that an attacker who gains access to any valid user account with appropriate privileges can exploit this vulnerability to escalate their access or compromise other users within the same Drupal installation. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where a single compromised account can lead to widespread malicious activity throughout the system. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used module like Meta tags quick increases the attack surface significantly, as many Drupal installations rely on this functionality for SEO optimization and content management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-5030 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected module to version 7.x-2.3 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output escaping mechanisms throughout their Drupal installations, particularly for modules that handle user-supplied content. Network segmentation and role-based access control can help limit the potential impact of exploitation by ensuring that users have the minimum necessary permissions to perform their tasks. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against XSS attacks. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.005, which covers command and scripting interpreters, highlights the need for comprehensive monitoring and detection capabilities to identify potential exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to ensure that all modules and themes within Drupal installations remain up to date with the latest security patches and that proper input validation mechanisms are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of the system.