CVE-2012-2297 in creativecommons
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Creative Commons module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.1 for Drupal allow remote authenticated users with the administer creative commons permission to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) creativecommons_user_message or (2) creativecommons_site_license_additional_text parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2297 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the Creative Commons module for Drupal version 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.1. This security flaw affects web applications that utilize the Drupal content management system and specifically targets the Creative Commons module which enables organizations to implement and manage creative commons licensing within their digital platforms. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the module's parameter handling processes, creating exploitable entry points for malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct parameter injection points within the module's codebase. Attackers with the specific administrative permission to administer creative commons settings can manipulate the creativecommons_user_message parameter or the creativecommons_site_license_additional_text parameter to inject malicious scripts. These parameters are processed without proper sanitization or encoding, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a stored XSS variant where malicious content is permanently stored on the server and subsequently served to other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities within the compromised Drupal environment. Once executed, the injected scripts can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify content displayed to other users, or even perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations using Drupal with the Creative Commons module, where administrators might be less vigilant about input validation. This creates a significant risk for websites that host user-generated content or require administrative control over licensing parameters, as the attack vector requires only moderate privileges within the system.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1566 technique for "Phishing" and T1584 for "Compromise of Infrastructure" where malicious scripts can be used to redirect users or harvest credentials. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices, as recommended by the OWASP Top Ten and the Secure Coding practices. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching to version 6.x-1.1 or later, which includes proper sanitization of user inputs and enhanced parameter validation. Additional mitigations include implementing Content Security Policy headers, restricting administrative privileges to only essential personnel, and conducting regular security audits of contributed modules. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of maintaining updated security practices for third-party modules in CMS environments, as these components often represent significant attack surfaces when not properly maintained.