CVE-2012-2070 in MultiBlock
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the MultiBlock module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.4 and 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.1 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with the administer blocks permission to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the block title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2021
The CVE-2012-2070 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the MultiBlock module for Drupal platforms, specifically affecting versions 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.4 and 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.1. This vulnerability operates as a server-side input validation failure that permits malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access with the specific administrative permission to administer blocks, making it exploitable by users who already possess legitimate administrative privileges within the Drupal environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of block titles within the MultiBlock module's administrative interface. When administrators create or modify block content, the module fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before rendering it in the web browser. This inadequate input validation creates a persistent XSS vector where malicious payloads can be injected into the block title field and subsequently executed whenever the affected block is displayed to other users. The vulnerability stems from a classic failure in output encoding practices and demonstrates a clear violation of secure coding principles that should prevent such injection attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2070 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Since the vulnerability requires only the administer blocks permission, attackers with relatively low-level administrative access can potentially compromise the entire Drupal installation. This access level often represents a significant privilege within Drupal systems, as it allows users to modify content, manage blocks, and potentially manipulate the site's presentation layer. The vulnerability can be particularly devastating in multi-user environments where administrators might have elevated privileges and access to sensitive information.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the available patches provided by the Drupal security team, specifically upgrading to MultiBlock module versions 6.x-1.4 or 7.x-1.1 respectively. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough security audits of their Drupal installations to identify any other potentially vulnerable modules or custom code that might exhibit similar input validation flaws. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in existing functionality while maintaining the security of the administrative interface. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging of administrative activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in software applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter. The attack surface is particularly relevant for web application security frameworks and highlights the importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing such persistent vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also underscores the critical need for regular security updates and patch management processes within CMS environments, as it represents a failure in the security baseline that should have been addressed through proper code review and testing procedures.