CVE-2012-2309 in Glossify Internal Links Auto SEO
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Glossify Internal Links Auto SEO module for Drupal 6.x-2.5 and earlier allows remote authenticated users with certain roles to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2018
The CVE-2012-2309 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Glossify Internal Links Auto SEO module for Drupal platforms. This security weakness specifically affects Drupal 6.x-2.5 and earlier versions, creating a significant risk for websites utilizing this particular module. The vulnerability's severity stems from its ability to allow remote authenticated users with specific privileges to execute malicious code through web scripts or HTML injection techniques. The flaw exists in the module's handling of user input and output rendering processes, where proper sanitization mechanisms fail to adequately filter malicious content before it is processed and displayed to other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors within the Glossify module's codebase, suggesting that the flaw may reside in multiple areas of the application's input validation and output encoding functions. Attackers with authenticated access and specific user roles can leverage this weakness to inject malicious scripts that will execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view pages containing the compromised content. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is improperly handled and executed in web applications. The attack vector typically involves manipulation of form fields, URL parameters, or other user-controllable input points that are subsequently rendered without proper HTML escaping or script sanitization.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2309 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can potentially enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, redirect users to malicious websites, or even escalate privileges within the affected Drupal environment. The vulnerability's presence in a SEO-focused module means that attackers could manipulate search engine optimization features to spread malicious content across multiple pages, amplifying the potential damage. Additionally, the fact that this affects authenticated users with specific roles suggests that the attack could be particularly dangerous in environments where administrators or content creators have elevated privileges, as these users could inadvertently trigger the XSS payload or be targeted directly by attackers who have already gained access to legitimate accounts. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers scripting through web shells or malicious scripts that can be executed in browser contexts.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including updating to the latest available version of the Glossify module, applying all available security patches, and implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The remediation process should involve thorough code review of the affected module, implementation of proper HTML sanitization routines, and deployment of web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected modules or components within their Drupal installations. Regular monitoring of security advisories, implementation of security headers such as Content Security Policy, and maintaining updated security configurations are essential practices to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping content management systems and their modules up to date with the latest security patches, as well as maintaining proper access controls and user privilege management to limit potential damage from authenticated attacks.