CVE-2013-2177 in Display Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Display Suite module 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.7 and 7.x-2.x before 7.x-2.3 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with certain permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an entity bundle label.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2018
The CVE-2013-2177 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Display Suite module for Drupal platforms, specifically affecting versions 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.7 and 7.x-2.x prior to 7.x-2.3. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a fundamental web application security weakness that enables attackers to inject malicious client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically targets the entity bundle label handling mechanism within the Display Suite module, which is commonly used to customize the display of content entities within Drupal-based websites. The security implications are particularly severe because the flaw requires only authenticated user access with specific permissions rather than administrator privileges, making it exploitable by users who have been granted limited access to the content management system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated user with appropriate permissions manipulates the entity bundle label field through the Drupal administrative interface. When the malicious payload is saved and subsequently rendered on the web page, the injected script executes in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the content rendering pipeline where user input is processed and displayed without adequate sanitization. This type of flaw demonstrates a failure in input validation and output encoding practices that should be implemented at multiple layers according to the principle of defense in depth. The attack vector is classified as server-side XSS since the malicious script is executed on the server during content processing rather than client-side.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2177 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attacks that compromise the entire web application ecosystem. An attacker could potentially establish persistent backdoors, escalate privileges within the application, or use the vulnerability as a stepping stone for broader attacks against the underlying infrastructure. The vulnerability affects any Drupal site utilizing the Display Suite module with exposed administrative interfaces, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems that host user-generated content or have multiple user roles with varying permission levels. Organizations running affected versions of Drupal are exposed to significant risk, especially those with public-facing websites or applications where users might have access to administrative functions. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise web applications at scale.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-2177 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Display Suite module to versions 7.x-1.7 or 7.x-2.3, respectively, which contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement strict input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their Drupal installations, ensuring that all user-provided content undergoes proper sanitization before being rendered on web pages. Access control measures must be reinforced to limit administrative permissions to only trusted users, implementing the principle of least privilege. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing site functionality, while also monitoring for any signs of exploitation attempts that may have occurred prior to patching. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in the application stack.