CVE-2018-7603 : Security Advisory and Response

A Cross Site Scripting vulnerability has been identified in Drupal's Search Autocomplete module prior to version 7.x-4.8, allowing potential exploitation by users with specific permissions.

Understanding CVE-2018-7603

This CVE involves a security vulnerability in the Search Autocomplete feature of Drupal's 3rd party module.

What is CVE-2018-7603?

The Search Autocomplete module in Drupal allows users to autocomplete textfields by fetching data from the website, such as nodes and comments. However, inadequate filtering of user-entered text within autocomplete items can lead to a Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability.

The Impact of CVE-2018-7603

The vulnerability enables any user with permission to create an autocompletion item, like nodes, users, or comments, to potentially execute malicious scripts.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-7603

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The Search Autocomplete module in Drupal's 3rd party module prior to version 7.x-4.8 is susceptible to a Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability due to insufficient text filtering.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: 3rd party module - Search Autocomplete
Vendor: Drupal
Versions Affected: Prior to 7.x-4.8
Version Type: Custom

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by users with permission to create autocompletion items, allowing them to inject and execute malicious scripts.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems and data from potential exploits related to CVE-2018-7603.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Search Autocomplete module to version 7.x-4.8 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
Restrict access to the autocompletion feature to trusted users only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit user inputs and interactions within the autocomplete feature.
Educate users on safe data entry practices to prevent XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from Drupal to address vulnerabilities promptly.