CVE-2012-2071 in Contact Forms
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Contact Forms module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.13 for Drupal when the core contact form is enabled, allows remote authenticated users with the administer site-wide contact form permission to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2018
The CVE-2012-2071 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Drupal Contact Forms module version 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.13. This vulnerability specifically targets the core contact form functionality of Drupal installations, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this content management system. The flaw enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, session hijacking, or further exploitation of the compromised system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects authenticated users who possess the administer site-wide contact form permission, indicating that the threat comes from within the organization's trusted user base rather than external attackers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the contact form module's processing logic. While the exact injection vectors remain unspecified in the CVE description, XSS vulnerabilities typically occur when user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. In this case, the module fails to adequately filter or escape user inputs that are subsequently displayed in contact form elements, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious scripts. This flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting vulnerabilities in software applications. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security practices in data sanitization and output encoding, common issues in web application development that have been extensively documented in security literature and industry standards.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2071 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges and compromise entire Drupal installations. An authenticated user with the appropriate permissions can leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious code that could steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even execute commands on the server if additional vulnerabilities exist. The attack surface is particularly dangerous because it targets users who already have legitimate access to the system, making detection more difficult and potentially allowing for prolonged exploitation. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and could enable attackers to bypass security controls that rely on user authentication and authorization. The security implications align with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as the injected scripts could be used to execute malicious commands within the compromised environment.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of the patched version 6.x-1.13 of the Contact Forms module. System administrators should conduct thorough security audits to identify any potential exploitation attempts and monitor web server logs for suspicious activity patterns. The patch addresses the core input validation issues that allowed the XSS injection, implementing proper sanitization and encoding mechanisms for user inputs. Additionally, organizations should review their user permission assignments to ensure that only trusted personnel have access to the site-wide contact form administration functions. Security teams should implement web application firewalls and content security policies to add additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate other potential XSS vulnerabilities within the Drupal installation and its associated modules. The incident underscores the critical importance of keeping all software components updated and maintaining comprehensive security monitoring procedures to detect and respond to exploitation attempts effectively.