CVE-2012-2708 in Hostmaster
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the _hosting_task_log_table function in modules/hosting/task/hosting_task.module in the Hostmaster (Aegir) module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.9 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with certain permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a Drush log message in a provision task log.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2019
The CVE-2012-2708 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Aegir hosting platform module for Drupal, specifically affecting versions 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.9. This vulnerability resides in the _hosting_task_log_table function located within the modules/hosting/task/hosting_task.module file, making it a direct component of the Hostmaster module that manages Drupal hosting environments. The flaw enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code through manipulated Drush log messages within provision task logs, creating a significant security risk for Drupal hosting infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the task logging mechanism. When authenticated users with specific permissions submit Drush commands that generate log messages, the system fails to properly escape or filter the content before displaying it in the web interface. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, leveraging the trust relationship between the hosting platform and its authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically targets the rendering of task logs where Drush command outputs are displayed without adequate sanitization measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the hosting environment. Remote authenticated users with appropriate permissions can craft malicious log messages that, when viewed by other administrators or users, execute malicious code in their browsers. This creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can establish backdoors, steal session cookies, or manipulate the hosting platform's administrative interface. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-tenant hosting environments where multiple administrators interact with the same system, as it can compromise the entire hosting infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected Aegir module to version 6.x-1.9 or later, which implements proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Organizations should also implement network-level controls to restrict access to hosting platform interfaces and establish strict permission controls for Drush command execution. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in the ATT&CK framework. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their hosting environments to identify any other instances of similar sanitization failures and implement automated monitoring for suspicious log message patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.