CVE-2014-9498 in Webform Invitation
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Webform Invitation module 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.3 and 7.x-2.x before 7.x-2.4 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with the Webform: Create new content, Webform: Edit own content, or Webform: Edit any content permission to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a node title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2018
The CVE-2014-9498 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Webform Invitation module for Drupal platforms, specifically affecting versions 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.3 and 7.x-2.x prior to 7.x-2.4. This vulnerability resides in the module's handling of node titles, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected web applications. The flaw operates by failing to properly sanitize user input when processing node titles, allowing attackers to inject malicious content that gets rendered without adequate security controls. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects authenticated users who possess specific permissions within the Drupal system, making it a privilege escalation issue that could be exploited by users with relatively basic access rights.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of node titles within the Webform Invitation module, where user-supplied input is directly incorporated into web page content without proper sanitization or encoding. This creates an environment where malicious scripts can execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view affected content, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further compromise of the affected system. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws, specifically categorized as injection flaws where untrusted data is embedded into web pages without proper validation or escaping. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages existing user permissions, meaning that an attacker with access to create or edit webform content can exploit this weakness without requiring additional privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9498 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise entire web applications and user sessions. When exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or manipulate webform data in ways that could lead to data corruption or unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability affects Drupal installations that rely on the Webform Invitation module for managing content invitations and user access, potentially exposing organizations to significant security risks. Attackers can craft malicious node titles containing script tags or other malicious code that executes when legitimate users view the affected content, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple sessions and user interactions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9498 focus on immediate patching of affected Drupal installations, upgrading the Webform Invitation module to versions 7.x-1.3 or 7.x-2.4 respectively, which contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other parts of their web applications, following the principle of least privilege by restricting user permissions to only those necessary for their roles. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other modules or components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust security controls as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's defense-in-depth principles, particularly focusing on input validation and output encoding controls to prevent injection attacks.