CVE-2015-3392 in Ajax Timeline Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Ajax Timeline module before 7.x-1.1 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-2015-3392 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Ajax Timeline module for Drupal platforms, specifically affecting versions prior to 7.x-1.1. This vulnerability resides in the module's handling of node titles, creating a persistent security weakness that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions. The issue manifests when authenticated users with appropriate privileges submit node titles containing malicious payloads that are subsequently rendered without proper sanitization, creating an exploitable vector for attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the Drupal environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the Ajax Timeline module's processing pipeline. When node titles are processed and displayed within the timeline interface, the module fails to properly sanitize user-supplied content, allowing malicious scripts to persist in the database and execute when other users view the affected content. This flaw operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, specifically targeting the failure to properly escape or filter user-controllable data before it is rendered in web pages. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires only authenticated access, meaning that attackers with legitimate user accounts can exploit this flaw to compromise other users within the same Drupal installation.
The operational implications of CVE-2015-3392 extend beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user credentials, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even execute arbitrary commands on behalf of affected users. In a Drupal environment, this vulnerability can be particularly dangerous as it may allow attackers to manipulate timeline data, inject malicious content into public-facing pages, or leverage the compromised user sessions to access restricted administrative functions. The attack vector requires minimal privileges, making it accessible to any authenticated user, which significantly increases the attack surface and potential damage scope. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script injection techniques and T1531 for credential access through session manipulation, representing both execution and persistence vectors within the attack lifecycle.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3392 primarily focus on immediate patching and module updates, as the vulnerability was resolved in version 7.x-1.1 of the Ajax Timeline module. Organizations should prioritize updating their Drupal installations to the latest available versions and ensuring all contributed modules are current with security patches. Additionally, implementing proper input validation at multiple layers, including database input sanitization and output encoding, can provide defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous script injection patterns, and access controls should be strictly enforced to limit user privileges to the minimum necessary for their roles. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security audits and vulnerability assessments of all installed Drupal modules to identify and remediate potential security weaknesses before they can be exploited by malicious actors.