CVE-2008-3094 in Organic Groups Module
Summary
by MITRE
The Organic Groups (OG) module 5.x before 5.x-7.3 and 6.x before 6.x-1.0-RC1, a module for Drupal, allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information (private group names) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3094 affects the Organic Groups module for Drupal, specifically versions 5.x before 5.x-7.3 and 6.x before 6.x-1.0-RC1. This module enables the creation and management of groups within Drupal installations, allowing users to organize content and manage access permissions. The flaw represents a significant information disclosure vulnerability that compromises the confidentiality of private group data. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and improper validation mechanisms within the module's code implementation, creating opportunities for unauthorized data exposure. Organizations relying on Drupal's group management functionality were at risk of having sensitive private group names accessible to remote attackers without proper authentication or authorization.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves unspecified attack vectors that allow remote exploitation to access private group information. This type of flaw typically falls under CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and may also relate to CWE-284, representing improper access control mechanisms. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass normal access restrictions and obtain private group names, which could contain sensitive organizational information, member lists, or group-specific content that should remain confidential. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways within the module's code could potentially be exploited, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for security assessments.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations using Drupal with the Organic Groups module. Private group names could reveal sensitive information about organizational structure, ongoing projects, or restricted content access. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable further attacks, such as targeted social engineering or reconnaissance for more sophisticated exploits. Attackers could leverage the exposed group information to plan more effective attacks against specific groups or to identify high-value targets within the organization's Drupal deployment. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or local network presence.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3094 involve immediate upgrading to patched versions of the Organic Groups module, specifically versions 5.x-7.3 or 6.x-1.0-RC1 and later. Organizations should also implement network-level restrictions and monitoring to detect unusual access patterns to group-related functionality. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their Drupal installations to identify other potentially affected modules or components. The remediation process should include reviewing access controls and implementing proper authentication mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users can access group information. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving information discovery and credential access, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security monitoring and access control enforcement. Regular security audits and patch management processes should be strengthened to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future deployments.