CVE-2015-3368 in Classified Ads Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the administration user interface in the Classified Ads module before 6.x-3.1 and 7.x-3.x before 7.x-3.1 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with the "administer taxonomy" permission to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a category name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2019
The CVE-2015-3368 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Drupal content management system's Classified Ads module. This vulnerability specifically targets the administration user interface and affects versions prior to 6.x-3.1 and 7.x-3.x before 7.x-3.1. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the module's category name handling functionality. Attackers with the "administer taxonomy" permission can exploit this weakness to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into category names, which then get executed in the browsers of other users who view these affected categories.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation in web applications, commonly known as cross-site scripting. This classification indicates that the vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data before it is rendered in web pages. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access with specific permissions rather than administrative privileges, making it accessible to users who have limited but targeted access to the system. The vulnerability operates through the standard XSS exploitation pattern where malicious input is stored and subsequently reflected to other users, creating a persistent threat vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. When authenticated users with taxonomy administration permissions create or modify category names containing malicious scripts, these scripts become embedded within the module's user interface elements. Any user who visits pages displaying these categories will execute the injected code in their browser context, potentially leading to complete compromise of their session and access to sensitive information. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the fact that the malicious content is stored server-side and executed each time the affected interface is accessed.
Organizations running affected Drupal installations must implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to the patched versions of the Classified Ads module, specifically versions 6.x-3.1 and 7.x-3.1 or later. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing input validation and output encoding measures at multiple layers of the application architecture. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by carefully reviewing and limiting the "administer taxonomy" permission to only essential users. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, though they should not replace proper code-level fixes. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other modules and components of the Drupal installation, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization in administrative interfaces. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.001 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code through script injection mechanisms.