CVE-2015-3344 in Course Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Course module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.2 and 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.4 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a node title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3344 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Course module for Drupal platforms running versions 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.2 and 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.4. This security weakness resides in the module's handling of node titles, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions. The vulnerability specifically affects authenticated users who possess the ability to create or edit content nodes, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have varying levels of access permissions. The flaw operates by failing to properly sanitize or escape user input when displaying node titles, thereby allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the browsers of other users who view the affected content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw occurring when untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The Course module's failure to implement adequate input sanitization mechanisms means that any node title containing malicious script tags or HTML elements can be rendered directly into the page output. This creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can craft specially crafted node titles that, when viewed by other users, trigger the execution of malicious code. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the trust relationship between the Drupal platform and its authenticated users, exploiting the legitimate permissions granted to users to perform content creation activities.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3344 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. When authenticated users view affected node titles, their browsers execute the injected scripts in the context of the vulnerable Drupal site, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, modify user permissions, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or direct network connectivity to the server, as they can exploit the flaw through standard web browser interactions. This characteristic places the vulnerability squarely within ATT&CK technique T1566, which encompasses social engineering attacks that can be facilitated through web-based exploitation methods.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of available security patches, specifically upgrading to Course module versions 6.x-1.2 or 7.x-1.4 respectively. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms, ensuring that all user-supplied content undergoes proper sanitization before being rendered in web pages. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing content security policies to limit the execution of inline scripts and restrict the use of potentially dangerous HTML elements. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other modules or custom code implementations, while user access controls should be carefully reviewed to minimize the potential impact of compromised accounts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust security practices throughout the Drupal ecosystem.