CVE-2012-2066 in CKeditor
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the FCKeditor module 6.x-2.x before 6.x-2.3 and the CKEditor module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.9 and 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.7 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users or remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2019
The CVE-2012-2066 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Drupal content management systems that utilize FCKeditor and CKEditor modules. This vulnerability specifically impacts Drupal 6.x and 7.x versions where the affected modules fail to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within web pages. The vulnerability exists in multiple module versions including FCKeditor 6.x-2.x before 6.x-2.3 and CKEditor 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.9 and 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.7, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors targeting Drupal installations.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the rich text editing components of these Drupal modules. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious payloads that contain script tags or other HTML elements, which are then executed in the context of other users' browsers when the compromised content is rendered. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects both authenticated users and remote attackers, meaning that even users with limited privileges can potentially exploit this flaw to execute malicious code. This weakness is classified as a CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which directly relates to the improper handling of user-supplied data in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete session hijacking, data theft, and unauthorized administrative access. When exploited successfully, attackers can inject malicious scripts that steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even modify content on the target website. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-user environments where administrators or editors may inadvertently process malicious content through the rich text editors, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise entire Drupal installations. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, and T1566 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to execute malicious JavaScript code and potentially harvest credentials.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2066 primarily involve immediate patching of affected modules to versions 6.x-2.3 for FCKeditor and 6.x-1.9 and 7.x-1.7 for CKEditor. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation measures, including the use of Content Security Policy headers, regular security audits of user-generated content, and proper output encoding for all dynamic content. Additional defensive measures include restricting user privileges to prevent unauthorized content modification, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the Drupal ecosystem. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping content management systems and their modules up to date with security patches to prevent exploitation of known weaknesses.