CVE-2014-8075 in Tribune
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Tribune module 6.x-1.x and 7.x-3.x for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with certain permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a node title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8075 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Tribune module for Drupal platforms version 6.x-1.x and 7.x-3.x. This security weakness specifically affects remote authenticated users who possess certain permissions within the Drupal environment, creating a significant risk for web applications that rely on this module for content management and publishing functionalities. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the module's handling of node titles, which are fundamental components of Drupal's content management system.
The technical flaw manifests when authenticated users with appropriate privileges submit node titles containing malicious script code or HTML content. The Tribune module fails to properly sanitize or escape these inputs before rendering them in web pages, allowing the injected code to execute within the browser context of other users who view the affected content. This occurs due to insufficient filtering of user-supplied data and the absence of proper HTML escaping mechanisms when displaying node titles in the module's user interface. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and directly impacts the integrity of the web application's output rendering process, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems where users can create and publish content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. Remote authenticated users with permissions to create or edit nodes can exploit this flaw to inject persistent XSS payloads that affect all users who view the compromised content. This creates a potential attack vector for phishing campaigns, where attackers can steal session cookies or redirect users to fraudulent sites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Drupal installations may host sensitive content and user data, as it provides attackers with a method to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the application.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of the Tribune module, applying the relevant Drupal security updates, and implementing additional input validation measures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and follows patterns commonly identified in the ATT&CK framework under the T1059 technique for command and scripting interpreter. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies as additional defensive measures. The remediation process requires careful attention to ensure that all instances of the Tribune module are updated consistently across the Drupal installation, as partial updates may leave portions of the system still vulnerable to exploitation. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the Drupal ecosystem.