CVE-2015-7980 in Compass Rose Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Compass Rose module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.1 for Drupal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, related to "embedding a JavaScript library from an external source that was not reliable."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2019
The CVE-2015-7980 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Compass Rose module for Drupal version 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.1. This vulnerability specifically targets the module's handling of external JavaScript library embeddings, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of affected web applications. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter or escape content sourced from external domains, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user input or external resources are integrated into web pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the Compass Rose module attempts to embed JavaScript libraries from external sources without proper security controls. This practice creates a direct attack vector where malicious actors can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content through unspecified vectors within the module's functionality. The vulnerability's classification as a cross-site scripting issue places it squarely within the CWE-79 category of "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The module's failure to validate external JavaScript sources means that any content loaded from third-party domains can potentially contain malicious code that executes in the context of legitimate users' browsers.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes Drupal installations to significant security risks including session hijacking, data theft, and malicious payload delivery. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal user credentials, manipulate web application behavior, or redirect users to malicious websites. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur without requiring any local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous for widely accessible web applications. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but entire organizations that rely on Drupal for their web presence, potentially leading to widespread data breaches and reputational damage. Organizations using the affected module versions face a high risk of compromise, especially if their web applications process user input or integrate external content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7980 should prioritize immediate module updates to version 6.x-1.1 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the external JavaScript embedding vulnerability. Security teams should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent unauthorized script injection, following the principle of least privilege when integrating external resources. The ATT&CK framework's T1211 technique for "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" are directly relevant to understanding how this vulnerability can be exploited in real-world scenarios. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities in other modules or custom code that might employ similar external resource embedding practices. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded, thereby reducing the impact of any remaining vulnerabilities in the application's codebase.