CVE-2015-4385 in Imagefield Info Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in unspecified administration pages in the Imagefield Info module 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.2 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with the "Administer image styles" permission to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2019
The CVE-2015-4385 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Imagefield Info module for Drupal platforms, specifically affecting versions 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.2. This vulnerability resides in administrative pages and poses significant security risks to Drupal installations that utilize this module. The flaw is particularly concerning because it targets authenticated users who possess the specific "Administer image styles" permission, making it exploitable by individuals who already have some level of access to the system. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent XSS issue means that malicious scripts can be executed within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors within the administrative interface of the Imagefield Info module, which is designed to manage image field configurations in Drupal. Attackers with the required permissions can inject malicious code into input fields that are then rendered on administrative pages without proper sanitization. This lack of input validation and output encoding creates an environment where malicious scripts can be stored and subsequently executed when other administrators or users view the affected pages. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged for session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration, depending on the attacker's objectives and the permissions of the users whose browsers execute the malicious code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations running Drupal-based systems, particularly those with multiple administrators or users who interact with administrative interfaces. The fact that this affects administrative pages means that attackers could potentially compromise the entire system by manipulating image style configurations that are used throughout the content management system. This vulnerability undermines the principle of least privilege as it allows authenticated users to escalate their privileges through script injection, potentially leading to full system compromise. The attack vector's specificity to the "Administer image styles" permission means that organizations with proper access controls may be partially protected, but the vulnerability still represents a significant risk to system integrity and user data security.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the patched version 7.x-1.2 of the Imagefield Info module, which addresses the XSS vulnerability through proper input validation and output sanitization mechanisms. The fix typically involves implementing comprehensive sanitization of user inputs before they are processed or displayed within administrative interfaces, aligning with security best practices outlined in the CWE-79 category for cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their Drupal installations to identify any other potentially vulnerable modules or components that may present similar risks. Implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection, while regular security monitoring and code reviews help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and following the ATT&CK framework's guidance on application security controls to prevent unauthorized code execution within administrative environments.