CVE-2008-0568 in Secure Site Module
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the IP-authentication feature in the Secure Site 5.x-1.0 and 4.7.x-1.0 module for Drupal allows remote attackers to gain the privileges of a user who has authenticated from behind the same proxy server as the attacker.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-0568 resides within the Secure Site module for Drupal, specifically affecting versions 5.x-1.0 and 4.7.x-1.0. This issue represents a critical security flaw in the module's IP authentication mechanism that fundamentally undermines the security model of web applications relying on proxy-based user identification. The vulnerability exploits a fundamental weakness in how the system handles IP address validation and user privilege assignment when users access the application through shared proxy infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests in the module's improper handling of IP address information when users authenticate through proxy servers. When multiple users access the Drupal application through the same proxy server, the vulnerable module fails to properly distinguish between individual user sessions based on their actual IP addresses. This creates a scenario where an attacker who can observe or manipulate traffic between the proxy and the web server can potentially impersonate other users who have authenticated through the same proxy infrastructure. The vulnerability essentially allows for privilege escalation through a man-in-the-middle attack vector that leverages shared network infrastructure rather than traditional authentication bypass techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential data breaches, unauthorized administrative access, and complete compromise of user accounts within the Drupal application. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain access to sensitive information, modify content, manipulate user permissions, and potentially escalate their privileges to administrative levels. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require direct access to the application server or knowledge of user credentials, instead relying on the predictable nature of proxy-based authentication systems. This makes it especially challenging to detect and defend against in production environments where proxy infrastructure is commonly used for load balancing, caching, or network optimization purposes.
The security implications of CVE-2008-0568 align with several common attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and credential manipulation. This vulnerability could be classified under CWE-284, which deals with improper access control, and CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication. Organizations using vulnerable Drupal modules should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of the Secure Site module, implementing additional authentication layers, and configuring proper IP address validation mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating network information sources and implementing robust session management practices in web applications. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging of proxy-related traffic to detect potential exploitation attempts. Given the age of this vulnerability, organizations should prioritize immediate remediation and consider conducting comprehensive security assessments of their web application infrastructure to identify similar issues in other modules or components.