CVE-2015-5488 in MailChimp Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the MailChimp Signup submodule in the MailChimp module 7.x-3.x before 7.x-3.3 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with the "administer mailchimp" permission to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2022
The CVE-2015-5488 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the MailChimp module for Drupal, specifically affecting versions 7.x-3.x prior to 7.x-3.3. This vulnerability exists within the MailChimp Signup submodule and poses significant security risks to Drupal-based web applications that utilize this module for email marketing integration. The flaw is particularly concerning because it affects authenticated users who possess the "administer mailchimp" permission, meaning that even trusted administrators within the system could potentially exploit this weakness to compromise other users.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the MailChimp module's signup functionality. When authenticated users with administrative privileges manipulate data through the module's interface, the system fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied content before rendering it in web pages. This allows malicious scripts to be injected and subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers, creating a persistent XSS attack vector that can be leveraged for various malicious purposes including session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability undermines the integrity of the Drupal content management system and the trust placed in administrative users. The attack surface is expanded because the vulnerability requires only authentication with existing administrative privileges rather than gaining initial access to the system. This means that attackers who have already compromised administrator credentials or who have been granted administrative access through other means can exploit this vulnerability to escalate their attacks. The vulnerability affects the broader web application security posture by potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code in users' browsers, which could lead to data breaches, service disruption, or further system compromise.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for the initial compromise through malicious web content. Organizations utilizing Drupal with the MailChimp module are particularly at risk as this vulnerability can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information and potentially establish persistent access to the web application. The flaw demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly within modules that handle user data and integrate with external services. The vulnerability also highlights the critical need for regular security updates and patch management processes to ensure that known security flaws are promptly addressed.
Organizations should immediately implement the available patch for the MailChimp module version 7.x-3.3 or later to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all installed Drupal modules to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure that proper input sanitization mechanisms are in place. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, and administrative users should be educated about the risks associated with manipulating data through web interfaces that may not properly validate input. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the critical role of module security in overall web application defense strategies.