CVE-2008-6532 in Drupal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the update feature in Drupal 5.x before 5.13 and 6.x before 6.7 allow remote attackers to perform unauthorized actions as the superuser via unspecified vectors, as demonstrated by causing the superuser to "execute old updates" that modify the database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6532 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw affecting Drupal content management systems versions 5.x prior to 5.13 and 6.x prior to 6.7. This weakness resides within the update feature of the platform, specifically targeting the administrative functionality that handles database modifications. The vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-352, which explicitly addresses cross-site request forgery conditions where attackers can manipulate authenticated users into executing unintended actions. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the superuser account's privileges through unspecified vectors that ultimately allow execution of database modification operations.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability exploits the trust relationship between the Drupal application and its authenticated users. When a superuser accesses certain administrative pages, particularly those related to system updates, the application fails to properly validate the origin of update requests. This lack of proper origin verification means that malicious actors can craft specially crafted requests that, when executed by an authenticated superuser, perform unauthorized database modifications. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the superuser is induced to "execute old updates" which are essentially database schema modifications that alter the system's underlying structure. These update operations, when improperly authorized, can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data modification, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of Drupal installations. A successful exploitation allows attackers to perform actions that would normally require direct administrative access, including but not limited to database schema alterations, user privilege modifications, and potentially complete system takeover. The implications are particularly severe because the superuser account typically possesses unrestricted access to all system functions and data within the Drupal installation. According to ATT&CK framework reference T1548.003, this vulnerability enables privilege escalation through the exploitation of authentication mechanisms, allowing adversaries to gain elevated system privileges. The attack vector requires the victim superuser to be tricked into visiting a malicious website or clicking on a crafted link, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently browse untrusted web content.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability center around immediate patch application and implementation of additional security controls. Organizations must upgrade to Drupal versions 5.13 or 6.7 respectively to receive the patched CSRF protection mechanisms that validate request origins and implement proper token-based authentication for administrative operations. Beyond patching, implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block CSRF attempts, enforcing strict content security policies, and conducting regular security audits of administrative interfaces provides defense-in-depth. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of security awareness training for system administrators, as social engineering remains a primary method for delivering CSRF payloads to authenticated users. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for CSRF weaknesses in all web applications, particularly those with administrative interfaces that handle sensitive operations. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication controls such as two-factor authentication for administrative accounts to reduce the impact of potential CSRF exploitation.