CVE-2012-4484 in Campaignmonitor
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the administrative interface in the Campaign Monitor module before 6.x-2.5 for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2019
The CVE-2012-4484 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Campaign Monitor module for Drupal, specifically affecting versions prior to 6.x-2.5. This vulnerability exists within the administrative interface of the module, creating a significant security risk for Drupal-based websites that utilize this particular component. The vulnerability's presence in the administrative context means that attackers who can gain access to administrative privileges or who can exploit the XSS flaw to escalate their privileges pose a severe threat to the entire web application ecosystem.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Campaign Monitor module's administrative interface. Attackers can exploit unspecified vectors to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code that will execute in the context of other users' browsers who access the compromised administrative pages. This flaw allows for the execution of arbitrary code within the victim's browser environment, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack pathways may exist, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as defenders cannot easily predict or secure against all potential exploitation methods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can lead to complete administrative compromise of Drupal installations using the affected module. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can manipulate the administrative interface to modify content, create new user accounts, alter permissions, or even install malicious modules. This represents a significant escalation from typical XSS attacks, as the administrative context provides access to the most privileged functions within the application. The vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can result in complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors or when attackers gain initial access through other means.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The attack surface is further expanded when considering the ATT&CK framework's techniques for credential access and privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can lead to persistent access and further compromise within the Drupal environment. Organizations using the Campaign Monitor module should immediately upgrade to version 6.x-2.5 or later, as this represents the patched release that addresses the input validation gaps. Additionally, implementing proper output encoding, content security policies, and regular security audits of third-party modules can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the critical need for thorough security testing of all administrative interfaces within web applications.