CVE-2012-1652 in Hierarchical Select
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Hierarchical Select module 6.x-3.x before 6.x-3.8 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with administer taxonomy permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors related to "the vocabulary s help text."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2021
The CVE-2012-1652 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Hierarchical Select module for Drupal 6.x-3.x versions prior to 6.x-3.8. This security weakness specifically targets authenticated users who possess administrator-level taxonomy permissions, creating a significant risk for web applications running vulnerable Drupal installations. The vulnerability manifests through unspecified vectors that are directly related to how the module handles vocabulary help text, which serves as a critical interface element for content management systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users with sufficient privileges manipulate the help text associated with taxonomy vocabularies within the Hierarchical Select module. These users can inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed in the browsers of other users who view the affected pages. The flaw exists because the module fails to properly sanitize or escape user input when rendering help text elements, allowing attackers to bypass standard security controls. This represents a classic XSS vulnerability where the malicious payload is stored and subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers, potentially enabling session hijacking, data theft, or further attack escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1652 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a persistent means of compromising Drupal sites with administrator-level access. When users with taxonomy administration privileges interact with the module's interface, they inadvertently create opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code that can persist across multiple sessions. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of taxonomy management within Drupal, potentially allowing attackers to modify or manipulate content in ways that could compromise entire content management systems. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where administrators frequently interact with taxonomy interfaces, as it can lead to widespread compromise of user sessions and sensitive data exposure.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader web application security frameworks, particularly aligning with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through phishing and T1203 for exploitation of web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Drupal installations to address this vulnerability, as the module's functionality directly impacts taxonomy management and content organization. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, output encoding, and privilege separation measures can help mitigate similar risks in other components of the Drupal ecosystem. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regularly updating third-party modules and maintaining comprehensive security monitoring practices to detect and respond to similar threats in web application environments.