CVE-2012-2060 in Admintools
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Admin tools module for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2019
The CVE-2012-2060 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Drupal's Admin tools module, exposing web applications to persistent security risks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. This vulnerability specifically affects the administrative interface components of Drupal installations, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems that rely heavily on administrative functionality for day-to-day operations. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the application's administrative interface, potentially enabling them to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. The unspecified vectors indicate that the vulnerability could be exploited through multiple attack paths within the module's input handling mechanisms, making it difficult to predict all potential exploitation scenarios and complicating defensive measures.
From a technical perspective, this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Admin tools module's codebase. The flaw typically occurs when user-supplied data is not properly escaped or filtered before being rendered in administrative pages, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent XSS issue means that malicious scripts can be stored within the application's database and executed whenever affected users access the administrative interface, creating a long-term threat that can persist even after initial exploitation. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines the weakness of cross-site scripting in software applications, particularly highlighting the dangerous combination of stored and reflected XSS vectors in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2060 extends far beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to perform administrative actions, modify content, steal session cookies, and potentially escalate privileges within the Drupal environment. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability can allow unauthorized users to gain elevated access rights, modify website content, delete data, or even install malicious modules that can compromise the entire web application infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning for organizations that rely on Drupal's administrative tools for critical business operations, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and data breaches. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability affects multiple Drupal versions and can be exploited across different deployment configurations, making it a widespread concern for organizations maintaining Drupal-based websites.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected Drupal installations, as the official security advisories from Drupal.org provide specific fixes for the Admin tools module. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms and output encoding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom applications. Network security controls including web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional layers of protection, though these should not replace proper code-level fixes. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patched installations to ensure that the XSS vulnerability has been properly addressed without introducing new issues. Regular security audits and code reviews should be implemented to identify potential XSS vulnerabilities in other modules and custom code within the Drupal environment, following established security frameworks and best practices that align with industry standards such as those defined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.