CVE-2008-3096 in Outline Designer module
Summary
by MITRE
The Outline Designer module 5.x before 5.x-1.4 for Drupal changes each content reader s authentication level to match that of the content author, which might allow remote attackers to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3096 resides within the Outline Designer module for Drupal content management systems, specifically affecting versions 5.x prior to 5.x-1.4. This security flaw represents a critical authorization bypass issue that fundamentally undermines the integrity of user access controls within the platform. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication levels during content rendering processes, creating a scenario where the system fails to maintain proper security boundaries between different user roles and permissions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the Outline Designer module's failure to properly validate and enforce authentication contexts when displaying content to users. When content is rendered through this module, the system incorrectly modifies the authentication level of content readers to match that of the content author rather than maintaining the reader's original permission set. This creates a dangerous privilege escalation scenario where users with lower access levels can potentially inherit the elevated permissions of content authors, effectively bypassing the standard role-based access control mechanisms that Drupal implements to protect sensitive operations and data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to Drupal installations that utilize the Outline Designer module. Attackers can exploit this flaw remotely to gain unauthorized access to content and functionality that should be restricted to specific user roles. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as compromised users may be able to execute administrative functions, modify content, or access restricted areas of the website that are typically protected from lower-privilege users. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other exploitation techniques.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems. This classification specifically covers situations where programs fail to properly enforce access restrictions, allowing unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the 'Abuse Elevation of Privilege' tactic where adversaries leverage system weaknesses to increase their access rights. Organizations using affected Drupal versions face potential data breaches, content manipulation, and unauthorized administrative access that could result in complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3096 require immediate action to upgrade the Outline Designer module to version 5.x-1.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the authentication level handling flaw. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including disabling the Outline Designer module when not actively needed, implementing network-level restrictions to limit access to administrative interfaces, and conducting thorough security audits of all installed modules. Regular monitoring of security advisories and maintaining updated security configurations remain essential practices to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the Drupal ecosystem.