CVE-2012-5569 in Basic webmail
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Basic webmail module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.2 for Drupal allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a (1) page title or (2) crafted email message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2018
The vulnerability CVE-2012-5569 represents a critical security flaw in the Basic webmail module for Drupal versions 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.2, exposing systems to multiple cross-site scripting attack vectors. This vulnerability specifically affects the webmail functionality within the Drupal content management system, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected users' browsers. The flaw manifests through two distinct attack vectors that leverage user input fields within the webmail module's interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the Basic webmail module's handling of user-provided data. When users navigate to specific webmail pages or receive crafted email messages, the module fails to properly escape or filter special characters in input fields such as page titles and email content. This inadequate sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the browser context of authenticated users who view the affected content. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and directly impacts the web application's security posture by enabling unauthorized code execution within user sessions.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5569 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Attackers can craft malicious email messages that, when viewed by victims, execute scripts to steal session cookies or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects users who have access to the Basic webmail module, potentially compromising the entire Drupal installation if users are administrators or have elevated privileges. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Drupal for web applications where email functionality is critical.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation for this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching to version 6.x-1.2 or later where the XSS flaws have been addressed. Organizations should also deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts, while implementing content security policies to restrict script execution. Input validation should be strengthened throughout the application to ensure all user-provided data is properly sanitized before processing or display. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a technique commonly categorized under ATT&CK tactic TA0001 (Initial Access) and technique T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) for attackers seeking to establish footholds within target environments through web application vulnerabilities.
Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable Basic webmail module across their Drupal installations and ensure proper access controls are implemented to limit exposure. Regular security monitoring and vulnerability scanning should be maintained to detect similar flaws in other modules or components of the Drupal ecosystem, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization in web applications. The remediation process must include thorough testing to ensure that patch implementations do not introduce regressions in functionality while maintaining the security improvements necessary to protect against XSS attacks.