CVE-2013-5315 in Scald
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Resource Manager in the MEE submodule (mee.module) in the Scald module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.0-beta3 and 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.1 for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the atom title, a different vector than CVE-2013-4174.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2019
The CVE-2013-5315 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Drupal content management system that specifically targets the MEE submodule's Resource Manager functionality. This vulnerability exists in the Scald module versions 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.0-beta3 and 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.1, making it a significant security concern for Drupal 6 and 7 installations that utilize this particular module. The flaw manifests when the system processes atom title inputs without proper sanitization, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the MEE submodule's handling of atom title data. When users submit content through the Resource Manager interface, the system fails to adequately sanitize the atom title field, allowing specially crafted malicious input to persist in the database and subsequently render in web pages without proper HTML escaping. This creates a classic XSS vector where attackers can inject JavaScript code or malicious HTML that executes in the browsers of unsuspecting users who view the affected content. Unlike CVE-2013-4174 which affected a different input vector, CVE-2013-5315 specifically targets the atom title field within the MEE submodule's resource management capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially steal user sessions, redirect victims to malicious websites, or inject persistent malicious code that affects all users who view the compromised content. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where administrators or authenticated users frequently interact with the Resource Manager interface, as these users often possess elevated privileges that could be leveraged to escalate the attack further. The persistence of the injected code means that the vulnerability remains active until the affected module is updated or the malicious content is manually removed from the database.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement patch management procedures to upgrade to the fixed versions of the Scald module, specifically versions 6.x-1.0-beta3 and 7.x-1.1 or later. The recommended mitigation strategy involves not only applying the official patches but also implementing additional defensive measures such as input validation at multiple layers, enhanced output encoding, and regular security auditing of module installations. Security professionals should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while also monitoring user activity for signs of unauthorized content injection. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which catalogs cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of web application vulnerabilities, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive security controls beyond simple patching to protect against such persistent threats in web application environments.