CVE-2013-4384 in Google Site Search module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Google Site Search module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.4 and 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.10 for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML by causing crafted data to be returned by the Google API.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2022
The CVE-2013-4384 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Google Site Search module for Drupal platforms, affecting versions 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.4 and 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.10. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a reflected XSS attack vector that exploits improper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The flaw arises from the module's insufficient sanitization of data returned by Google's API, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the Google Site Search module processes search results from Google's API without adequate sanitization of the returned data. Attackers can craft malicious search queries or manipulate the API response data in such a way that malicious scripts are embedded within the search results displayed on Drupal pages. When legitimate users browse these pages, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the trusted Google API as a vector for attack, making it more difficult to detect and prevent through traditional security measures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to Drupal websites utilizing the Google Site Search module, as it allows remote attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The impact extends beyond simple script execution, as attackers can leverage the XSS vector to perform more sophisticated attacks such as cookie theft, defacement of web content, or even privilege escalation within the application. The vulnerability affects both Drupal 6 and 7 platforms, creating a widespread impact across numerous websites that rely on this search functionality. Organizations running affected versions face potential data breaches, reputational damage, and compliance violations under various security standards including pci dss and hipaa.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves immediate upgrading to the patched versions 6.x-1.4 and 7.x-1.10 of the Google Site Search module, which implement proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Security teams should also implement additional defensive measures such as content security policies, regular security audits of third-party modules, and monitoring for suspicious API responses. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of validating and sanitizing all data from external sources, particularly when integrating with third-party APIs. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in their Drupal installations. This case highlights the critical need for maintaining up-to-date security patches and the potential for supply chain attacks through trusted third-party integrations, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1584 for supply chain compromise and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter execution.