Update Drupal to address cross-site scripting vulnerability

The information below was sent to U-M IT groups on May 27, 2021. It is intended for U-M IT staff who are responsible for university websites that use the Drupal content management system.

Summary

Drupal has released security updates to address a CKEditor vulnerability affecting Drupal 8.9, 9.0, and 9.1. Update to the latest version as soon as possible after appropriate testing. Drupal is a web content management system.

Problem

Any website running a vulnerable version of CKEditor is at risk. Drupal core uses a third-party CKEditor library that has an error in parsing HTML that could lead to a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack under certain circumstances.

Threats

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to take control of an affected system.

Affected Versions

Drupal 8.9, 9.0, and 9.1

Action Items

Update to the latest version as soon as possible after appropriate testing:

  • If you are using Drupal 9.1, update to Drupal 9.1.9.

  • If you are using Drupal 9.0, update to Drupal 9.0.14.

  • If you are using Drupal 8.9, update to Drupal 8.9.16.

  • If you are using the CKEditor library via means other than Drupal core, update your 3rd party code (for example, the WYSIWYG module for Drupal 7).

Updates for U-M services:

  • ITS Web Application Hosting. If you have an affected Drupal installation through ITS Web Hosting, you will need to update it. 

  • U-M Hosting Platform. Drupal on the U-M Hosting Platform has been updated for you. If you use this service, you do not need to take action.

How We Protect U-M

ITS Information Assurance is working with ITS staff who manage systems running Drupal and notifying others across the university to ensure the updates are applied in a timely manner.

Information for Users

Drupal is a content management system used to manage website content. Administrators of systems running Drupal need to apply the update. Content managers and website users do not need to do anything.

In general, the best protection for your devices is this: keep your software and apps up-to-date, do not click suspicious links in email, do not open shared documents or email attachments unless you are expecting them and trust the person who sent them, and only use secure, trusted networks. For more information, see Phishing & Suspicious Email, Secure Your Devices, and Secure Your Internet Connection on the U-M Safe Computing website.

Questions, Concerns, Reports

Please contact [email protected].

References