CVE-2014-9739 in Node Field Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Node Field module 7.x-2.x before 7.x-2.45 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with certain permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors involving internal fields.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2019
The CVE-2014-9739 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Node Field module for Drupal version 7.x-2.x prior to 7.x-2.45. This vulnerability specifically targets authenticated users who possess certain permissions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user access controls are not strictly enforced. The issue arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the module's handling of internal fields, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected websites.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the module's failure to properly sanitize user-provided data when processing internal fields. When authenticated users with appropriate permissions submit content containing malicious scripts or HTML code, the system does not adequately filter or escape these inputs before rendering them in web pages. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the browsers of other users who view the affected content. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the Drupal core module ecosystem, meaning that successful exploitation can potentially compromise the entire website's security posture.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The fact that it requires only authenticated access with specific permissions means that the attack surface is limited but still significant, particularly in environments where administrators may grant broad field editing privileges to users. The vulnerability can be exploited through multiple vectors involving internal fields, making detection and prevention challenging. Security researchers have classified this issue as a medium to high severity threat under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, specifically relating to CWE-79 which addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to initial access and privilege escalation. Attackers can leverage this flaw to establish persistent access to affected systems by injecting malicious scripts that capture user credentials or redirect them to malicious sites. Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including immediate patching to version 7.x-2.45 or later, proper input validation controls, and enhanced monitoring of user activities within field editing interfaces. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of defense. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security updates and proper access control management within Drupal environments, as well as the necessity of conducting thorough security assessments of contributed modules to prevent similar issues from compromising organizational security postures.