CVE-2012-4492 in Shorten
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Shorten URLs module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.13 and 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.2 for Drupal allow remote authenticated users with certain permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors to the (1) report or (2) Custom Services List page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4492 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Shorten URLs module for Drupal platforms. This security weakness affects versions 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.13 and 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.2, exposing Drupal installations to potential exploitation by authenticated users who possess specific permissions. The vulnerability manifests through unspecified attack vectors that target two distinct administrative pages within the module's interface. The affected pages include the report page and the Custom Services List page, both of which serve as potential entry points for malicious script injection. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a stored XSS variant that allows attackers to inject malicious code that persists within the application's data storage.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the Shorten URLs module's administrative interfaces. When authenticated users with appropriate privileges access these specific pages, the module fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in the web response. This inadequate sanitization process creates an environment where malicious scripts can be stored and subsequently executed whenever other users view the affected pages. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires only authentication with specific permissions rather than administrative privileges, making it accessible to users who may have limited but targeted access to the system. The attack vector involves the injection of arbitrary web script or HTML code through the module's report and Custom Services List functionality, which are typically used for managing URL shortening services and their associated data.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4492 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the compromised Drupal environment. Successful exploitation could allow threat actors to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface the website content, or even escalate privileges within the application. The vulnerability's persistence through stored XSS means that once injected, malicious scripts remain active until manually removed or the module is updated. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for administrators who may not immediately detect the presence of injected code. Additionally, the affected module's functionality as a URL shortening service creates a potential attack surface where malicious links could be created and distributed to unsuspecting users, potentially leading to widespread exploitation across the Drupal community. The vulnerability's presence in widely-used Drupal modules increases the attack surface significantly, as many organizations rely on these components for their web infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of available security patches or upgrades to the Shorten URLs module. The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating to versions 6.x-1.13 or 7.x-1.2, which contain the necessary fixes to address the XSS vulnerabilities. System administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation at multiple layers, output encoding for all user-supplied content, and regular security auditing of installed modules. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, and access controls should be reviewed to ensure that only authorized users possess the specific permissions required to access the vulnerable pages. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for "Phishing with Social Engineering" highlights the potential for attackers to use this vulnerability as part of broader phishing campaigns, making comprehensive security awareness training essential for personnel who interact with the affected administrative interfaces. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection against similar vulnerabilities and establish incident response procedures to quickly address any exploitation attempts that may occur.