CVE-2012-5559 in ctools
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the page manager node view task in the Chaos tool suite (ctools) module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.10 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with permissions to submit or edit nodes to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the page title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-5559 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Chaos tool suite module for Drupal, specifically affecting versions 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.10. This issue resides in the page manager node view task functionality, which is part of the ctools module that provides various administrative tools for Drupal site builders. The vulnerability allows authenticated users to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information or account takeovers. The flaw specifically impacts users who possess permissions to submit or edit nodes, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have administrative privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the page title field processing. When users with appropriate permissions create or modify page titles through the ctools interface, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in the browser context. This insufficient sanitization creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed when other users view the affected page. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. The flaw demonstrates a classic scenario where user-controllable data enters the application without proper security measures, creating a pathway for malicious code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling sophisticated attack vectors within the Drupal ecosystem. An attacker with node submission or editing permissions could craft malicious page titles containing payloads that exploit browser vulnerabilities or steal session cookies from other authenticated users. This could lead to complete account compromise, data exfiltration, or further escalation within the Drupal environment. The attack requires only authentication to the Drupal system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised accounts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script injection and T1531 for credential access through session hijacking. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but can potentially compromise entire Drupal installations if exploited at scale.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5559 primarily involve immediate patching of the affected ctools module to version 6.x-1.10 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as input validation at the application level, content security policy implementation, and regular security audits of contributed modules. Access control measures should be reviewed to ensure that only trusted users have node submission or editing permissions, reducing the attack surface. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious page title modifications, and regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other contributed modules. The patch addresses the root cause by implementing proper HTML escaping and input validation routines that prevent malicious code from being executed in the browser context. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection layers against similar injection attacks.