CVE-2015-3376 in Quizzler Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Quizzler module before 7-x.1.16 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 CVE-2015-3376 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Quizzler module for Drupal platforms, specifically affecting versions prior to 7.x-1.16. 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 websites. The issue is particularly concerning because it affects authenticated users, meaning that attackers who have gained access to legitimate user accounts can exploit this weakness to compromise the application's security. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output encoding practices within the Quizzler module's node title processing functionality, allowing malicious payloads to be stored and subsequently executed when other users view the affected content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of node titles within the Quizzler module's administrative interface or content creation forms. When authenticated users submit node titles containing malicious script code, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode these inputs before rendering them in web pages. This lack of proper validation creates an environment where attacker-controlled JavaScript code can be injected into the application's output, which then executes in the browsers of other users who view the affected content. The vulnerability is classified as a persistent XSS attack since the malicious code is stored on the server and executed each time the affected page is loaded, rather than requiring a single interaction with a malicious link.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability significantly compromises the security posture of Drupal installations using the Quizzler module. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of content, and redirection to malicious websites. The authenticated nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require administrator privileges to cause damage, as any user with appropriate permissions to create or edit nodes can potentially inject malicious code. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems, as unauthorized code execution can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and potential lateral movement within the application environment. The vulnerability also violates fundamental security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the risk of cross-site scripting attacks that can result in unauthorized data access and system compromise.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2015-3376 centers on upgrading the Quizzler module to version 7.x-1.16 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive security patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of vendor-provided fixes. Additionally, implementing proper input validation at multiple layers, including application-level sanitization and output encoding, can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other modules and custom code implementations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages, specifically targeting web application exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional protection against XSS attacks, while maintaining proper access controls and user privilege management to limit the scope of potential exploitation.