CVE-2015-4372 in Image Title Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Image Title module before 7.x-1.1 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with certain permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2019
The CVE-2015-4372 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Image Title module for Drupal platforms prior to version 7.x-1.1. This vulnerability specifically targets authenticated users who possess certain permissions, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected systems. The flaw resides in how the module processes and renders image title data, creating an environment where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being displayed to other users. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to manipulate user sessions, redirect visitors to malicious sites, or even perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental weakness in web application security that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The attack vector leverages the fact that the module fails to implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms when handling user-provided image title information.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are particularly concerning for Drupal-based web applications that rely on the Image Title module for content management. Attackers with minimal privileges can exploit this flaw to compromise the integrity of the web application and potentially escalate their access to higher-privilege accounts. The vulnerability's persistence lies in the module's failure to properly escape or filter user input before rendering it in the web interface, creating a direct pathway for script execution. When authenticated users with appropriate permissions submit malicious content through image titles, the system processes this data without adequate sanitization, allowing the injected scripts to execute in the browsers of other users who view the affected content. This creates a chain reaction where compromised users become unwitting participants in the attack, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the web application. The vulnerability's designation as a remote authenticated attack means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or administrative privileges to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments.
Organizations utilizing Drupal platforms must implement immediate remediation measures to address this vulnerability, including upgrading to the patched version 7.x-1.1 of the Image Title module or implementing temporary workarounds. The recommended mitigation strategy involves comprehensive input validation and output encoding to prevent script injection attempts, aligning with the ATT&CK framework's mitigation recommendations for web application security. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable module across their Drupal installations, particularly focusing on environments where users have the ability to create or modify image content. The implementation of proper content security policies and regular security audits can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while also ensuring that user permissions are strictly controlled to minimize the attack surface. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include both perimeter security controls and internal application-level protections. Regular security training for developers and administrators can also help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future development cycles, emphasizing the need for secure coding practices that prevent XSS vulnerabilities through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms.