CVE-2012-1624 in Lingotek
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Lingotek module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.40 for Drupal allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML when (1) creating or (2) editing page content.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2019
The CVE-2012-1624 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Lingotek module for Drupal 6.x-1.x versions prior to 6.x-1.40. This vulnerability exposes Drupal websites to significant security risks by allowing authenticated attackers to execute malicious scripts through crafted input fields. The flaw specifically manifests when users with appropriate permissions create or edit page content, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have content management capabilities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Lingotek module's content handling mechanisms. When authenticated users submit content through the module's interface, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before rendering it in web pages. This allows attackers to inject malicious javascript code, html tags, or other harmful scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires authentication, meaning attackers must first obtain valid user credentials or exploit a privilege escalation issue to leverage this weakness effectively.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1624 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. Given that the vulnerability affects Drupal's content management capabilities, it can compromise the integrity of website content and user data. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates within the legitimate content creation workflow, making it difficult to detect and distinguish from normal user activities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate remediation measures including upgrading to the patched version 6.x-1.40 or later of the Lingotek module. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all Drupal installations to identify potentially vulnerable modules and ensure proper input sanitization practices are implemented. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper output encoding and input validation in web applications, principles that are fundamental to the OWASP Top Ten security framework. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional defense-in-depth measures against similar attacks. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for regular security updates and the importance of maintaining current versions of all web application components to prevent exploitation by threat actors.