CVE-2015-5495 in Mobile Sliding Menu Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Mobile sliding menu module 7.x-2.x before 7.x-2.1 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with the "administer menu" permission to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2017
The CVE-2015-5495 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Mobile sliding menu module for Drupal CMS version 7.x-2.x prior to 7.x-2.1. This vulnerability specifically targets authenticated users who possess the "administer menu" permission, creating a significant security risk for Drupal-based websites that utilize this module. The flaw allows malicious actors with sufficient privileges to inject arbitrary web script or HTML code through unspecified vectors, potentially compromising the entire web application and user data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the Mobile sliding menu module's implementation. When administrators with menu administration privileges create or modify menu items, the module fails to properly sanitize user-provided data before rendering it in the web interface. This insufficient sanitization creates an environment where malicious scripts can be executed within the context of other users' browsers, enabling attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing arbitrary commands on affected systems. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship between the legitimate administrator and the web application, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative privileges are compromised.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5495 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks within the Drupal ecosystem. An attacker with the "administer menu" permission can manipulate menu structures to include malicious payloads that persist across user sessions. This persistent threat can lead to session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Drupal's menu management features for mobile site navigation, potentially compromising user privacy and application integrity. The attack vector requires authentication but does not necessitate elevated privileges beyond what is already granted to menu administrators, making it particularly concerning for organizations with less stringent access controls.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately apply the patched version 7.x-2.1 of the Mobile sliding menu module to remediate the security flaw. The mitigation strategy involves not only updating the vulnerable module but also conducting comprehensive security audits of all Drupal installations to identify similar vulnerabilities in other contributed modules. Security teams should implement proper input validation and output encoding practices as recommended by the CWE-79 standard for cross-site scripting prevention. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious menu modifications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for Scripting, specifically targeting the web application layer through user interface manipulation. Regular security training for administrators and principle of least privilege implementation can further reduce the attack surface and potential impact of such vulnerabilities in the Drupal environment.