CVE-2015-3365 in Nodeauthor Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the nodeauthor module for Drupal allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a Profile2 field in a provided block.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2019
The CVE-2015-3365 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the nodeauthor module for Drupal platforms, specifically targeting the Profile2 field functionality within block content. This vulnerability exists in the way the module processes and renders user-provided data, creating an attack vector that can be exploited by authenticated users with limited privileges. The flaw resides in the insufficient sanitization of input data when Profile2 fields are displayed within block contexts, allowing malicious script execution in the victim's browser environment.
This vulnerability operates through a classic XSS attack pattern where an authenticated user with appropriate permissions can craft malicious content containing script tags or HTML elements within the Profile2 field. When this content is rendered in a block context, the Drupal platform fails to properly escape or filter the malicious input, resulting in the execution of arbitrary scripts within the victim's browser session. The attack requires authentication but does not necessitate administrative privileges, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited by users with standard content author permissions. The vulnerability specifically impacts the nodeauthor module's handling of Profile2 field data, which is commonly used for displaying user profile information within blocks and other content areas.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user data, manipulate content displayed to other users, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. Attackers can leverage this flaw to create persistent XSS payloads that execute whenever affected blocks are rendered, allowing for long-term monitoring of user interactions or unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability affects Drupal installations using the nodeauthor module with Profile2 integration, potentially impacting numerous websites that rely on these components for user profile display and content management. According to CWE standards, this corresponds to CWE-79, which classifies cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a critical weakness in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3365 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Drupal modules, with administrators prioritizing updates to the nodeauthor module and ensuring Profile2 field sanitization is properly implemented. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms, particularly for user-generated content within block contexts. Security teams should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and monitor for suspicious content submissions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as the malicious scripts can execute within the victim's browser environment. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege management can limit the potential damage from authenticated users who might exploit this vulnerability, while regular security audits and code reviews can help identify similar sanitization issues in other modules. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, as well as establishing incident response procedures to quickly address any successful attacks.