CVE-2014-4506 in Custom Meta
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Custom Meta module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.2 and 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.3 allows remote authenticated users with the "administer custom meta settings" permission to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) an attribute or (2) content value for a meta tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2018
The CVE-2014-4506 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Custom Meta module for Drupal platforms, specifically affecting versions 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.2 and 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.3. This vulnerability resides in the module's handling of meta tag attributes and content values, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts within the context of affected user sessions. The flaw is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access with administrative privileges, making it exploitable by users who already have significant control over the system's configuration. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a cross-site scripting weakness, specifically manifesting as an injection flaw where untrusted data flows into the web application's execution context without proper sanitization or validation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker with the "administer custom meta settings" permission manipulates meta tag attributes or content values within the module's administrative interface. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Custom Meta module's processing logic. When the module renders these meta tags in web pages, it fails to properly sanitize the input data, allowing malicious scripts to be executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit pages containing the compromised meta tags. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which involves the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code through crafted input parameters.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4506 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the affected Drupal environment. An attacker could craft malicious meta tag content that, when rendered in a user's browser, could redirect them to phishing sites, steal cookies, or inject additional malicious scripts. The vulnerability's persistence in the system means that even after the initial exploitation, the malicious code could continue to affect users until the compromised meta tags are removed or the module is updated. The security implications are particularly severe in environments where the affected Drupal sites handle sensitive information or where users have elevated privileges, as the attacker could potentially gain access to additional system resources or data beyond what is directly exposed through the meta tag manipulation.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including applying the available security patches for the Custom Meta module, which address the input validation deficiencies. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor for suspicious meta tag content and enforce stricter input validation policies. The remediation process should include thorough auditing of existing meta tag configurations to identify any potentially compromised entries. Security teams should also implement monitoring for unusual administrative activities related to meta tag modifications and establish regular security assessments of contributed modules to identify similar vulnerabilities. The incident highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the need for comprehensive security testing of all modules within Drupal installations, particularly those that handle user-provided content in web-facing contexts.