CVE-2009-2077 in Views
Summary
by MITRE
Drupal 6.x before 6.x-2.6, a module for Drupal, allows remote authenticated users to bypass access restrictions and (1) read unpublished content from anonymous users when a view is already configured to display the content, and (2) read private content in generated queries.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2077 affects Drupal 6.x versions prior to 6.x-2.6, specifically targeting a module within the Drupal content management system that handles access control mechanisms. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the platform's permission system, allowing authenticated users to exploit improperly configured views to gain unauthorized access to content that should remain restricted. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user permissions when processing view queries, creating a pathway for privilege escalation through maliciously crafted requests. The issue demonstrates a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege enforcement within the Drupal framework, where user access controls fail to properly validate whether authenticated users should have access to specific content types or view configurations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when a Drupal site administrator configures a view to display certain content, but fails to properly restrict access to that view based on user roles or permissions. When an authenticated user accesses such a view, the system does not adequately verify whether the user has the necessary permissions to view the underlying content, particularly unpublished or private content. This flaw enables attackers to bypass the normal access control checks that would typically prevent them from viewing content they should not be able to see, including content that is unpublished or marked as private within the system. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes generated queries that retrieve content, allowing malicious users to manipulate the query parameters to access restricted data. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and represents a classic case of insufficient access control validation in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-2077 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it allows attackers to potentially access sensitive unpublished content or private data that should only be visible to authorized personnel. This could include draft content, internal documents, or any other material that is marked as private within the Drupal system, leading to potential data breaches or information leaks that could compromise organizational security. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the content management system's access control mechanisms and could enable attackers to gather intelligence about unpublished content, potentially including sensitive business information, strategic plans, or confidential communications. Organizations running affected Drupal versions may experience unauthorized access to their content repositories, undermining the trust placed in their content management system's security controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Drupal installations to version 6.x-2.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly validate access controls when processing view queries. System administrators should conduct thorough audits of all view configurations to ensure that proper access controls are implemented for each view, particularly those that might display content that should remain restricted. The remediation process should include verifying that all views have appropriate role-based access restrictions and that unpublished content is properly protected from unauthorized access. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring of view access patterns to detect any unusual activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper access control implementation and the need for regular security updates to address known vulnerabilities in content management systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 which addresses valid accounts and privilege escalation through access control bypasses.