CVE-2012-3800 in Organic Groups
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in og.js in the Organic Groups (OG) module 6.x-2.x before 6.x-2.4 for Drupal, when used with the Vertical Tabs module, allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related the group title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2018
The CVE-2012-3800 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Organic Groups module for Drupal, specifically affecting version 6.x-2.x prior to 6.x-2.4. This vulnerability manifests in the og.js javascript file and creates a significant security risk when the Organic Groups module is used in conjunction with the Vertical Tabs module. The flaw enables remote authenticated users to execute malicious web scripts or inject arbitrary HTML content, potentially compromising the security of entire Drupal installations that utilize these modules.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the group title handling mechanism of the OG module. When users with appropriate privileges create or modify group titles, the application fails to properly sanitize the input data before rendering it within the web interface. This improper handling allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, particularly when the Vertical Tabs module is active and processing group-related data. The vulnerability specifically targets the javascript component og.js which manages group interactions and displays, making it a prime target for exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-3800 extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, or redirect victims to malicious websites. Since the vulnerability requires only authenticated access, it can be exploited by users who have legitimate permissions within the Drupal system, making detection more challenging. Attackers can leverage this flaw to compromise user sessions, potentially gaining access to confidential group information, member lists, or other sensitive data that the Organic Groups module manages. The vulnerability's presence in the Vertical Tabs integration layer compounds the risk by creating additional attack vectors through which malicious code can be injected.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. The attack pattern corresponds to the ATT&CK technique T1566.001, specifically targeting credential access through malicious web content delivery. Organizations using Drupal with the Organic Groups module should implement immediate mitigations including updating to version 6.x-2.4 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization patches. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular security audits of module configurations to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications and highlights how seemingly minor flaws in javascript components can create significant security risks when combined with other modules in complex web frameworks.