CVE-2008-6908 in Services
Summary
by MITRE
Services 5.x before 5.x-0.92 and 6.x before 6.x-0.13, a module for Drupal, uses an insecure hash when signing requests, which allows remote attackers to impersonate other users and gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6908 affects the Services module in Drupal versions 5.x prior to 5.x-0.92 and 6.x prior to 6.x-0.13. This issue resides within a critical security mechanism that governs how API requests are authenticated and validated within the Drupal ecosystem. The Services module enables remote access to Drupal functionality through web services, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit authentication weaknesses in web applications.
The core technical flaw involves the use of an insecure hash algorithm for signing requests within the Services module. This weakness stems from the implementation of a weak cryptographic function that fails to provide adequate protection against collision attacks and other cryptographic vulnerabilities. The insecure hash mechanism allows attackers to forge valid request signatures without possessing the legitimate private keys or credentials required for proper authentication. This flaw directly violates security principles outlined in CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms and improper cryptographic key generation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to impersonate legitimate users within the Drupal system, potentially gaining unauthorized access to administrative functions and sensitive data. The privilege escalation capabilities mean that attackers could transform regular user accounts into administrator accounts, completely compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the affected Drupal installations. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential harvesting through various attack vectors.
The security implications extend beyond simple authentication bypass as this vulnerability can be exploited in conjunction with other attack vectors to establish persistent access to affected systems. The insecure hash implementation creates a backdoor that allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the Drupal Services module, making detection and prevention particularly challenging. Organizations running affected Drupal versions face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized content modification, and potential complete system compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security design practices that should have been addressed through proper cryptographic implementation and adherence to security standards such as those defined in NIST SP 800-131A regarding cryptographic algorithm selection and usage.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading to patched versions of the Services module, implementing additional authentication layers, and conducting comprehensive security audits of all Drupal installations. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect anomalous API request patterns and establish proper access controls for web services. The incident underscores the critical importance of cryptographic best practices and regular security updates in maintaining robust web application security posture.