CVE-2012-2065 in Languageicons
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Language Icons module 6.x-2.x before 6.x-2.1 and 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.0 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with administer languages permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2021
The CVE-2012-2065 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Language Icons module for Drupal platforms, specifically affecting versions 6.x-2.x prior to 6.x-2.1 and 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.0. This vulnerability operates as a server-side injection vector that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw particularly targets authenticated users who possess the specific administrative permission to manage languages, making it a significant concern for Drupal site administrators who may inadvertently grant these privileges to untrusted users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Language Icons module's handling of user-provided data. When administrators configure language settings or manage language-specific icons, the module fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied parameters before rendering them in web pages. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist in the application's data storage and execute whenever affected pages are rendered for other users. The vulnerability manifests through unspecified vectors, suggesting that multiple input points within the module's codebase may be susceptible to such injection attacks, potentially including configuration parameters, language names, or icon specifications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, manipulate data, or redirect users to malicious websites. An attacker with language administration privileges can craft malicious payloads that execute in the context of other authenticated users' browsers, potentially leading to complete account compromise or privilege escalation within the Drupal environment. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent XSS flaw means that the injected scripts can affect multiple users over time, as the malicious content remains stored within the application's database and executes each time relevant pages are accessed.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications, and it maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for social engineering and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability requires only administrative permissions for languages, which are often granted to site administrators or trusted content managers. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the Language Icons module, reviewing user permission assignments, and implementing additional input validation measures. Security monitoring should focus on unusual language configuration changes and user activities that might indicate exploitation attempts.
The broader implications for Drupal security highlight the importance of module security auditing and proper input validation practices throughout the application lifecycle. This vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign administrative features can become attack vectors when proper sanitization controls are absent. Organizations should establish comprehensive security testing procedures that include dynamic analysis of module functionality, particularly for components that handle user input or configuration data. Regular security updates and patch management processes become critical defensive measures against such vulnerabilities, as they prevent exploitation of known flaws that attackers can readily identify through vulnerability databases and security research publications.