CVE-2012-5591 in Zeropoint
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Zero Point module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.18 and 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.4 for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the path aliases.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2019
The CVE-2012-5591 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Zero Point module for Drupal platforms, specifically affecting versions 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.18 and 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.4. This vulnerability resides in the module's handling of path aliases, creating a dangerous attack vector that allows remote adversaries to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's response. The flaw demonstrates a classic XSS weakness that can be exploited without requiring any authentication or privileged access, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely on user-generated content or dynamic URL routing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output encoding within the Zero Point module's path alias processing functionality. When the module handles URL aliases, it fails to properly validate or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into the HTML response sent to clients. This oversight creates an environment where attackers can craft malicious path aliases containing script tags or other HTML elements that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability manifests when the application displays these aliases in web pages, effectively allowing attackers to inject malicious code that can persist and affect multiple users who view the affected content.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5591 extends far beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and defacement of web applications. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal user sessions, redirect victims to phishing sites, or inject malware delivery mechanisms that compromise the entire user base of affected Drupal installations. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by the fact that it affects widely used Drupal versions and modules, potentially exposing thousands of websites to coordinated attacks. Security researchers have classified this as a high-severity vulnerability under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including applying the available patches released by the Drupal security team, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. The remediation process requires updating the Zero Point module to versions 6.x-1.18 or 7.x-1.4 respectively, which contain the necessary code modifications to properly sanitize path alias inputs. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough security audits of their Drupal installations to identify any other potential XSS vulnerabilities and implement Content Security Policy headers to add an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers the use of malicious web content to execute code on target systems, making it a critical concern for organizations maintaining web applications that process user input through content management systems.