CVE-2015-4365 in Taxonomy Accordion Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Taxonomy Accordion module for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with certain permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to taxonomy terms.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2019
The CVE-2015-4365 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Taxonomy Accordion module for Drupal platforms, exposing systems to sophisticated web-based attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. This vulnerability specifically targets authenticated users who possess certain permissions within the Drupal content management system, creating a dangerous attack surface that leverages the module's functionality for managing hierarchical taxonomy terms. The flaw resides in how the module processes and renders taxonomy term data, failing to properly sanitize user input before displaying it within web pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by creating or modifying taxonomy terms containing malicious script code, which then executes in the browsers of other users who view these terms. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where applications fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. This particular implementation flaw demonstrates the critical importance of input sanitization in web applications, particularly when handling user-generated content that may be displayed to other users within the same application context.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4365 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive user information, or redirect victims to malicious sites. When exploited, this vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code into taxonomy term displays, which can then be executed by other users browsing the affected pages. The attack requires only that users have permissions to create or edit taxonomy terms, which is often granted to editors and content managers within Drupal installations. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have administrative or editorial privileges, as a single compromised account can lead to widespread exploitation. The vulnerability's persistence lies in the fact that once malicious code is injected into taxonomy terms, it remains active until the term is modified or deleted, potentially affecting all users who encounter the compromised content. According to ATT&CK framework category T1190, this vulnerability enables initial access through web application attacks, while T1059 demonstrates how the injected code can be used for command execution and lateral movement within compromised systems. The attack vector specifically targets the module's handling of user input during taxonomy term creation or modification processes, where proper output encoding and validation should occur but fails to prevent malicious code from being stored and subsequently executed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-4365 should focus on immediate patch application and comprehensive security hardening measures. Organizations must prioritize updating to Drupal core versions that include fixes for this vulnerability, along with upgrading or disabling the vulnerable Taxonomy Accordion module until proper patches are applied. Implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms should be enforced at multiple levels, including application-level sanitization of taxonomy term data and browser-side security controls such as Content Security Policy headers. Access control measures should be reviewed to ensure that only users requiring specific permissions to modify taxonomy terms are granted those privileges, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Security monitoring should include regular scanning for malicious code injection patterns within taxonomy term data, while network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for regular security assessments and patch management processes, particularly for third-party modules that extend core application functionality. Organizations should also implement proper user training to raise awareness about the risks of creating or modifying taxonomy terms with untrusted input, as social engineering aspects of this vulnerability can compound technical weaknesses. Additionally, maintaining detailed audit logs of taxonomy term modifications can help detect unauthorized or suspicious activity that may indicate exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that all Drupal modules are running supported versions with active security patches.