CVE-2013-2129 in Webform
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Webform module 6.x-3.x before 6.x-3.19 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with the "edit own webform content" or "edit all webform content" permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a component label.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2019
The CVE-2013-2129 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Drupal Webform module version 6.x-3.x prior to 6.x-3.19. This vulnerability specifically targets authenticated users who possess either the "edit own webform content" or "edit all webform content" permissions, creating a significant security risk for Drupal-based web applications. The flaw resides in how the module processes component labels, which are essential elements used to define form fields and their associated metadata within webforms. When these labels are improperly sanitized, they become potential vectors for malicious script injection, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Webform module's handling of form component labels. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious labels containing script tags or other malicious HTML content that gets rendered directly into the web page without proper sanitization. This allows for the execution of malicious JavaScript code in the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability is classified as a classic XSS attack pattern where user-controllable input is not properly escaped or filtered before being displayed to other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and compromise entire user sessions. An authenticated user with editing permissions can create forms that contain malicious code, which then executes whenever other users view or interact with those forms. This creates a persistent threat vector that can affect multiple users over time, particularly in environments where webforms are frequently used for data collection or user interaction. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in software applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Scripting, as it involves the execution of malicious scripts within web browsers.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the recommended security patches and updates to the Webform module, specifically upgrading to version 6.x-3.19 or later. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough security reviews of existing webforms to identify and remediate any potentially compromised components. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks, while regular input validation and output encoding practices should be enforced throughout the application. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of principle of least privilege, where users should only be granted the minimum permissions necessary to perform their functions, thereby limiting the potential impact of such attacks.