CVE-2015-3386 in Node Access Product Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Node Access Product module 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-2015-3386 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Node Access Product module for Drupal content management systems. This security weakness affects authenticated users who can manipulate node titles to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the system. The vulnerability resides in how the module processes and renders node titles, creating an avenue for attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw demonstrates a classic XSS vulnerability pattern where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in web pages. The affected Drupal module specifically handles node access permissions and product information display, making it a prime target for exploitation in environments where multiple users interact with product data management features.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Node Access Product module's title processing functionality. When authenticated users submit node titles containing malicious scripts, the system fails to properly escape special characters or validate the input against known XSS attack patterns. This weakness allows attackers to craft payloads that execute in the browser context of other users who view the affected node titles. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authentication to exploit, meaning that any user with legitimate access to the Drupal system can potentially launch XSS attacks against other users. The attack vector operates through standard web application request processing where the malicious title content flows directly into HTML output without appropriate sanitization measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3386 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker could craft a node title containing JavaScript that steals cookies or session tokens from authenticated users, effectively compromising their accounts. The vulnerability also allows for more sophisticated attacks such as defacement of product information, injection of malicious advertisements, or redirection to phishing sites that appear legitimate within the Drupal interface. This creates a significant risk for e-commerce and product management systems where the Node Access Product module is deployed, as attackers could manipulate product data or gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability affects organizations using Drupal versions where the Node Access Product module is installed and active, potentially impacting thousands of websites and applications.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the Node Access Product module to implement proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input is validated against allowed character sets and that special characters are properly escaped before rendering in HTML contexts. The recommended approach involves implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and using proper HTML escaping functions in the module's rendering logic. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, though this represents a secondary defense measure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 for the initial compromise through malicious web content. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other modules and custom code implementations.