CVE-2012-4496 in Custom Pub
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Custom Publishing Options module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.4 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with the "administer nodes" permission to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the status labels parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2018
The CVE-2012-4496 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Custom Publishing Options module for Drupal 6.x-1.x versions prior to 6.x-1.4. This vulnerability specifically targets the status labels parameter within the module's functionality, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions. The flaw exists in the module's handling of user-supplied input, where proper sanitization and validation mechanisms are insufficient to prevent malicious code injection.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess the "administer nodes" permission, which grants them elevated privileges within the Drupal content management system. This permission level allows users to manage content and publish options, making the vulnerability particularly concerning as it can be leveraged by insiders or compromised accounts with administrative access. The status labels parameter serves as the injection vector, where user input is directly incorporated into the web page output without adequate sanitization, creating an XSS attack surface that can be exploited by authenticated users.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the browsers of other users who view affected pages. The consequences can range from session hijacking and credential theft to more sophisticated attacks such as redirecting users to malicious sites or defacing content management interfaces. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on Drupal's node management features, where status labels are frequently used to categorize and display content publishing states. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that persist in the system and execute whenever legitimate users access the affected administrative interfaces.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or sanitization. This classification emphasizes the fundamental flaw in input handling and output encoding practices within the module. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications and credential access through web application exploitation, potentially enabling attackers to establish persistent access to the affected systems. The module's failure to implement proper input validation and output encoding represents a critical gap in the application's security posture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching to version 6.x-1.4 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization fixes. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as input validation at multiple layers, output encoding for all dynamic content, and regular security audits of contributed modules. Access control measures should be strictly enforced, ensuring that administrative permissions are granted only to trusted users and that principle of least privilege is maintained. Network-based security controls such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, though they should not be relied upon as the sole defense mechanism. Regular monitoring of module updates and security advisories from Drupal security team remains essential for maintaining overall system security posture.