CVE-2014-8320 in Custom Search
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Custom Search module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.12 and 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.14 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with certain permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the "Label text" field to the results configuration page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2018
The CVE-2014-8320 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Custom Search module for Drupal platforms, specifically affecting versions 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.12 and 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.14. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The vulnerability specifically targets the "Label text" field within the results configuration page of the Custom Search module, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid authentication credentials and specific permissions within the Drupal environment, typically including roles that can configure search results or manage custom search modules. This authentication requirement places the vulnerability in the category of authenticated XSS attacks, where the attacker must first establish a foothold within the system before executing the malicious payload. The flaw occurs during the processing of user-supplied input in the Label text field, which is then rendered without proper sanitization or encoding in the web response. This failure to implement adequate input validation and output encoding creates an environment where malicious scripts can be injected and subsequently executed by other users who view the affected pages.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-8320 extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised Drupal environment. Once executed, the injected scripts can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify content displayed to other users, or even escalate privileges within the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-user environments where administrators or content managers might inadvertently create search configurations with malicious labels. According to ATT&CK framework category T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, this vulnerability represents a classic example of how attackers can leverage application flaws to establish persistent access and execute arbitrary code. The attack vector specifically aligns with T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as the vulnerability enables JavaScript code execution through the web interface.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the recommended patches and updates to the Custom Search module, ensuring that all instances are upgraded to versions 6.x-1.12 or 7.x-1.14 respectively. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied content, particularly within administrative interfaces where privileged users can configure system behavior. Security teams should also implement monitoring for unusual activity in search configuration pages and conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar flaws in other modules. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing proper security controls such as Content Security Policy headers to prevent XSS attacks. Additionally, role-based access controls should be carefully reviewed to minimize the potential impact of compromised accounts, and user input should always be treated as untrusted data requiring sanitization before processing or display. The remediation process must include thorough testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in existing functionality while effectively addressing the XSS vulnerability.