CVE-2012-1654 in Data
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Data module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.0 and 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.0-alpha3 for Drupal allow remote authenticated users with the administer data tables permission to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the title parameter in (1) data.views.inc and (2) data_ui/data_ui.admin.inc.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1654 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Data module for Drupal versions 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.0 and 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.0-alpha3. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative functionality of Drupal sites that utilize the Data module, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these versions. The flaw exists in the handling of user input within the title parameter of two key files: data.views.inc and data_ui/data_ui.admin.inc, which are integral components of the module's administrative interface.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the Drupal Data module's administrative forms. When authenticated users with the specific permission to administer data tables submit data containing malicious script code within the title parameter, the system fails to properly sanitize this input before rendering it in the web page context. This lack of proper input filtering creates an environment where attackers can inject arbitrary JavaScript code or HTML content that executes in the browsers of other users who view the affected pages. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only the specific administrative permission rather than elevated privileges, making it accessible to users who have legitimate administrative access but could be compromised or malicious.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform various malicious activities within the context of the vulnerable Drupal site. Attackers could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface content, or even escalate their privileges within the application. The vulnerability affects the administrative interface specifically, meaning that any user with the administer data tables permission could exploit this flaw, which often includes site administrators or content managers. This creates a significant risk for organizations where multiple users have administrative access to data modules, as a single compromised account could lead to widespread exploitation.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a classic example of insecure input handling in web forms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for the execution of malicious code through web scripting and T1566 for the initial access vector through compromised administrative credentials. The attack surface is limited to Drupal installations using the vulnerable Data module versions and requires authentication to the system, making it less likely to be exploited by automated scanners but still highly dangerous in targeted attacks. Organizations should immediately implement the recommended patches for the Data module, update to versions that have addressed this vulnerability, and consider implementing additional security measures such as input validation, output encoding, and regular security audits to prevent similar issues from occurring in other components of their Drupal installations.