CVE-2009-4066 in PHPList
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the "My Account" feature in PHPList Integration module 5 before 5.x-1.2 and 6 before 6.x-1.1 for Drupal allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users via vectors related to (1) subscribing or (2) unsubscribing to mailing lists.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2019
The CVE-2009-4066 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery issue within the PHPList Integration module for Drupal platforms. This vulnerability specifically targets the "My Account" feature and affects versions prior to 5.x-1.2 and 6.x-1.1, creating a significant security risk for Drupal websites that utilize this integration module. The flaw allows remote attackers to exploit user sessions and perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge or consent. The vulnerability manifests through two primary attack vectors involving mailing list subscription and unsubscription processes, which are fundamental functions within email management systems.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper authentication tokens or validation mechanisms within the affected module's user account management functionality. When users access the "My Account" section to perform subscription or unsubscription actions, the application fails to verify that the requests originate from legitimate user interactions rather than maliciously crafted requests. This lack of CSRF protection creates an exploitable condition where attackers can craft specially designed web pages or emails that, when visited by authenticated users, automatically submit malicious requests to the vulnerable Drupal site. The attack requires no privileged access or credentials from the attacker, as the malicious requests leverage the existing authenticated session of the target user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it enables complete hijacking of user authentication sessions within the context of the affected Drupal installation. An attacker could potentially subscribe or unsubscribe arbitrary users from mailing lists, which could lead to spam distribution, unauthorized access to restricted content, or even account takeover scenarios. The implications are particularly severe in environments where mailing list management is tied to user permissions or content access controls. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the integrity of user authentication mechanisms, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or perform actions that should require explicit user consent.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The attack pattern follows standard CSRF methodologies documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of "T1566: Phishing" and "T1078: Valid Accounts" where attackers leverage existing authenticated sessions to perform unauthorized actions. Organizations using Drupal with the affected PHPList Integration module face significant risk of unauthorized access and data compromise, particularly in scenarios where users frequently interact with email subscription features. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper input validation and session management controls in web applications, especially within content management systems that handle user authentication and sensitive data operations.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrading of the PHPList Integration module to versions 5.x-1.2 or 6.x-1.1, which contain the necessary CSRF protection mechanisms. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as CSRF token validation, proper session management, and regular security audits of third-party modules. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and security monitoring systems can provide additional defense-in-depth layers. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected modules and ensure comprehensive security posture maintenance. The incident underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust security controls to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in web applications.