CVE-2015-7878 in Taxonomy Find Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Taxonomy Find module 6.x-2.x through 6.x-1.2 and 7.x-2.x through 7.x-1.0 in Drupal allows remote authenticated users with certain permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via taxonomy vocabulary and term names.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2019
The CVE-2015-7878 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Taxonomy Find module for Drupal platforms, affecting versions 6.x-2.x through 6.x-1.2 and 7.x-2.x through 7.x-1.0. This vulnerability resides in the module's handling of user-supplied input within taxonomy vocabulary and term names, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected websites. The flaw specifically targets authenticated users who possess certain permissions, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages existing user privileges to escalate attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the Taxonomy Find module's processing of taxonomy data. When users with appropriate permissions create or modify taxonomy vocabularies and terms, the module fails to properly escape or filter user-provided content before rendering it in web pages. This inadequate sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of other users who view the affected taxonomy pages. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which classifies improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically targeting the manipulation of web content through user-supplied data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to Drupal websites relying on taxonomy functionality, particularly those with multiple authenticated users. Attackers can exploit this weakness to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface websites, or execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or privilege escalation. The impact extends beyond simple data corruption as it can enable persistent threats where malicious scripts remain active until manually removed from the taxonomy data. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means attackers need only have valid user accounts with taxonomy-related permissions to potentially compromise entire website ecosystems.
The attack surface for CVE-2015-7878 aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which involves command and scripting interpreter for executing malicious code through web applications. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations running Drupal 6 and 7 platforms where taxonomy modules are actively used for content categorization and organization. The risk is amplified in environments where user permissions are not properly managed or where administrators fail to implement proper input validation measures. Security teams should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader web application security practices, particularly those addressing the principle of least privilege and proper input sanitization. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability through official Drupal updates and implement additional security measures such as web application firewalls and regular security audits to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating and sanitizing all user-supplied input in web applications, especially within content management systems where users may have elevated privileges to modify site structure elements.