CVE-2012-2308 in Taxonomy Grid Catalog
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Taxonomy Grid : Catalog module for Drupal 6.x-1.6 and earlier allows remote authenticated users with certain permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2308 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Taxonomy Grid: Catalog module for Drupal version 6.x-1.6 and earlier. This issue affects web applications built on the Drupal content management system and specifically targets the module responsible for managing taxonomy terms and catalog data. The vulnerability exists in the way the module processes user input when displaying taxonomy grid information, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access with specific permissions rather than administrative privileges, making it exploitable by users who have been granted limited access to taxonomy management functions.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping within the Taxonomy Grid: Catalog module. When users with appropriate permissions create or modify taxonomy terms, the module fails to properly validate and escape user-supplied data before rendering it in the grid interface. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed when other users view the affected taxonomy grid pages. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, specifically manifesting as a cross-site scripting attack vector. The attack occurs through unspecified vectors, suggesting that the flaw could be exploited through multiple input points within the module's functionality, including term names, descriptions, or other editable fields within the taxonomy grid interface.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Drupal for content management and catalog systems. Remote authenticated users with taxonomy management permissions can compromise the security of the entire application by injecting malicious scripts that could steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of other users. The attack surface is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited by users who already have legitimate access to the system, making detection more challenging and potentially allowing for prolonged exploitation. The vulnerability could lead to data theft, privilege escalation, and unauthorized access to sensitive information within the catalog system, especially when combined with other security weaknesses in the Drupal installation. According to ATT&CK framework category T1531, this vulnerability enables adversaries to use compromised accounts to perform malicious activities that could escalate to full system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2308 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Taxonomy Grid: Catalog module to version 6.x-1.7 or later, which includes proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input sanitization measures at multiple levels, including validating all user-supplied data before processing and ensuring that all output is properly escaped for the context in which it will be rendered. Network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block potential XSS payloads, while security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other modules or custom code. Additionally, access controls should be reviewed to ensure that only necessary users have taxonomy management permissions, following the principle of least privilege. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing functionality, and organizations should maintain updated security monitoring to detect any exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced across all Drupal installations to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.