CVE-2013-4275 in Zen Theme
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the zen_breadcrumb function in template.php in the Zen theme 6.x-1.x, 7.x-3.x before 7.x-3.2, and 7.x-5.x before 7.x-5.4 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with the "administer themes" permission to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the breadcrumb separator field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2024
The CVE-2013-4275 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Zen theme for Drupal content management systems. This vulnerability specifically affects versions 6.x-1.x, 7.x-3.x prior to 7.x-3.2, and 7.x-5.x prior to 7.x-5.4, making it a widespread issue across multiple Drupal version lines. The vulnerability resides in the zen_breadcrumb function located within the template.php file of the Zen theme, which is a popular administrative theme for Drupal installations.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the breadcrumb separator field functionality. When authenticated users with the "administer themes" permission modify the breadcrumb separator settings, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before rendering it in the web page context. This lack of proper input sanitization creates an environment where malicious scripts can be injected and subsequently executed within the browser context of other users who view pages utilizing the affected theme. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only the "administer themes" permission, which is often granted to trusted users within Drupal installations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected users' browsers. This capability enables a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious websites, and potential data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects not just the immediate users of the affected Drupal sites but can compromise the entire user base that accesses pages utilizing the modified theme, making it particularly concerning for sites with multiple administrators or users with elevated privileges. The attack vector requires minimal privileges, making it accessible to users who should normally be trusted within the system's permission model.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately upgrade to the patched versions of the Zen theme, specifically version 7.x-3.2 for the 7.x-3.x branch and 7.x-5.4 for the 7.x-5.x branch. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the updated theme to ensure compatibility with existing site configurations and functionality. Additionally, administrators should review and audit the permissions assigned to users with the "administer themes" capability, implementing the principle of least privilege to minimize the attack surface. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls as additional defensive measures, though these should not be considered replacements for proper patching.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications. The attack pattern follows the typical characteristics described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1566 technique for initial access through malicious content, where the malicious code is injected through legitimate administrative functions. The vulnerability also relates to T1071.004 for application layer protocols, specifically web protocols, where the XSS attack exploits the web application's handling of user input in the breadcrumb navigation component. The severity classification of this vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust input validation practices throughout all web application components.