CVE-2009-3785 in Simplenews Statistics
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in Simplenews Statistics 6.x before 6.x-2.0, a module for Drupal, allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3785 affects the Simplenews Statistics module version 6.x prior to 6.x-2.0 within the Drupal content management system. This module provides statistical tracking capabilities for newsletter subscriptions and email campaigns, making it a critical component for organizations managing digital communications. The flaw manifests as multiple cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities that enable remote attackers to exploit the authentication mechanisms of arbitrary users without requiring legitimate credentials. The attack vector operates through the manipulation of user sessions and authentication tokens, allowing unauthorized individuals to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the module's failure to properly validate and verify the origin of HTTP requests within its administrative interfaces. When users access the Simplenews Statistics module, the system should ensure that all requests originate from legitimate sources and contain appropriate authentication tokens. However, the vulnerability exists due to insufficient request validation mechanisms, particularly in how the module handles form submissions and administrative actions. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or send specially crafted requests that, when executed by an authenticated user, trigger unintended administrative functions within the module. This weakness directly relates to CWE-352, which defines cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities as a critical security flaw where the application fails to verify the source of requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it allows attackers to hijack user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the Drupal environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to modify newsletter configurations, access sensitive subscriber data, or even modify user permissions within the Simplenews module. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system or direct network connection to the server. Instead, attackers can send malicious links through email or social media platforms, making the attack surface particularly broad. This vulnerability affects any organization using Drupal 6.x with the Simplenews Statistics module installed, particularly those managing email campaigns and user subscriptions where sensitive data is processed.
Security practitioners should immediately implement mitigation strategies focusing on input validation and request origin verification. The most effective immediate solution involves updating to Simplenews Statistics version 6.x-2.0 or later, which includes proper CSRF token implementation and request validation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security layers such as Content Security Policy headers and proper session management controls. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating request sources and implementing proper authentication mechanisms for administrative interfaces, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1548.003 for abuse of session management. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security audits of all Drupal modules to identify similar CSRF vulnerabilities, as the attack pattern suggests potential for widespread impact across other modules that may lack proper CSRF protection mechanisms.