CVE-2009-3922 in Userprotect
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the User Protect module 5.x before 5.x-1.4 and 6.x before 6.x-1.3, a module for Drupal, allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that (1) delete the editing protection of a user or (2) delete a certain type of administrative-bypass rule.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2019
The CVE-2009-3922 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the User Protect module for Drupal platforms, specifically affecting versions 5.x prior to 5.x-1.4 and 6.x prior to 6.x-1.3. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications. The flaw exists within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the Drupal content management system, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit administrative privileges without proper authentication.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation within the User Protect module's administrative functions. When administrators perform actions such as deleting user editing protection or removing administrative-bypass rules, the module fails to verify that these requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or exploit existing vulnerabilities in other parts of the web application to automatically submit these administrative requests on behalf of authenticated administrators.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and directly threatens the integrity of Drupal sites utilizing the affected User Protect module. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to administrative functions, potentially leading to complete compromise of the web application. The ability to delete user editing protection allows attackers to remove security controls that prevent unauthorized modifications to user accounts, while deleting administrative-bypass rules can eliminate critical access controls that protect sensitive system functions. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts used for persistence and privilege escalation.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through social engineering or by leveraging other vulnerabilities in the broader web application ecosystem. The attack vector typically involves tricking an authenticated administrator into visiting a malicious website that automatically submits CSRF requests to the vulnerable Drupal installation. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring direct access to the target system or knowledge of administrator credentials. Organizations using Drupal platforms should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of the User Protect module, implementing proper CSRF token validation mechanisms, and conducting security reviews of all installed modules to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and authentication checks in web applications, particularly those handling administrative functions and user privilege management.