CVE-2008-1729 in Drupal
Summary
by MITRE
The menu system in Drupal 6 before 6.2 has incorrect menu settings, which allows remote attackers to (1) edit the profile pages of arbitrary users, and obtain sensitive information from (2) tracker and (3) blog pages, related to a missing check for the "access content" permission; and (4) allows remote authenticated users, with administration page view access, to edit content types.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1729 represents a critical access control flaw within the Drupal 6 content management system prior to version 6.2. This issue stems from improper menu configuration that creates multiple pathways for unauthorized users to access protected functionality and data. The vulnerability specifically affects the menu system's permission checking mechanisms, which are fundamental to Drupal's security architecture and user access control framework. The flaw manifests in four distinct attack vectors that collectively demonstrate a comprehensive breakdown in the application's security model.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the missing permission checks within Drupal's menu system implementation. When users navigate through the application's menu structure, the system should verify appropriate permissions before granting access to specific pages or functions. However, in the affected Drupal 6 versions, these permission checks are either absent or improperly implemented, allowing attackers to bypass normal access controls. This failure directly relates to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and specifically demonstrates weaknesses in authorization mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized access to sensitive resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, affecting multiple core Drupal functionalities. Remote attackers can exploit the flaw to edit profile pages of arbitrary users, potentially compromising user accounts and personal information. Additionally, the vulnerability allows unauthorized access to tracker and blog pages that contain sensitive information, undermining the privacy and data protection mechanisms that users expect from content management systems. The fourth vector enables authenticated users with limited administrative privileges to modify content types, potentially leading to more extensive system compromise and content manipulation. These attack vectors align with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering, as they exploit legitimate user access to escalate privileges and access restricted functionality.
The implications extend beyond immediate data exposure, as this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in Drupal's permission architecture that could enable more sophisticated attacks. Attackers with minimal privileges can leverage this vulnerability to gain deeper system access, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple menu system components indicates a systemic issue in how Drupal handles access control validation rather than isolated component failures. Organizations running affected Drupal versions face significant risk of unauthorized data access, user account compromise, and potential content manipulation that could damage reputation and violate data protection regulations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1729 require immediate action to address the underlying access control issues. The most effective solution involves upgrading to Drupal 6.2 or later versions where the menu permission checking mechanisms have been properly implemented and tested. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of user permissions and access controls to identify any potential exploitation that may have occurred before the patch was applied. Additionally, implementing network-level controls and monitoring for suspicious access patterns can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper permission checking in web applications and serves as a reminder of the critical need for thorough security testing of access control mechanisms before deployment. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in their Drupal installations.