XSS Vulnerability in Drupal's Node Blocks contributed module (6.x-1.3 and 5.x-1.1)

XSS Vulnerability in Drupal's Node Blocks contributed module (6.x-1.3
and 5.x-1.1)

Discovered by Martin Barbella <[email protected]>

Description of Vulnerability:

Drupal is a free software package that allows an individual or a
community of users to easily publish, manage and organize a wide
variety of content on a website. (From: http://drupal.org/about&#41;

The Node Blocks module allows users to specify content type(s) as
being a block. This allows the content managers of the site to edit
the block text and title without having to access the block
administration page. (From: http://drupal.org/project/nodeblock&#41;

The block title is not properly sanitized when a user displays a block
created from a node, resulting in a cross site scripting
vulnerability.

Systems affected:

This has been confirmed in Node Blocks 6.x-1.3 and 5.x-1.1. Previous
versions may also be affected.

Impact:

This is an example of a stored cross site scripting vulnerability.
Stored attacks are those where the injected code is permanently stored
on the target servers, such as in a database, in a message forum,
visitor log, comment field, etc. The victim then retrieves the
malicious script from the server when it requests the stored
information. (From OWASP:
http://www.owasp.org/index.php/Cross-site_Scripting_&#37;28XSS&#37;29&#41;

Mitigating factors:

A user must be able to create nodes of a type used by Node Blocks, and
this node must be added as a block by a user with the administer
blocks permission.

Proof of concept:

1. Install the Node Blocks module
2. Create a content type with available as block enabled
3. As a user with permission to create nodes of this type, create a
   node with the title "<script>alert('XSS')</script>"
4. As a user that can administer blocks, add this block to a region
5. Note that an alert box will be displayed when the block is
   generated on a page

Solution:

Install version 6.x-1.4 or 5.x-1.2 of the Node Blocks module.

Timeline:

2009-12-29 - Drupal Security notified.
2010-01-13 - Security announcement released on drupal.org
(http://drupal.org/node/683598&#41;

Credit:

This vulnerability was reported by Martin Barbella to Khalid
Baheyeldin at Drupal Security, and fixed by Thomas Turnbull.