CVE-2009-4558 in Img Assist
Summary
by MITRE
The Image Assist module 5.x-1.x before 5.x-1.8, 5.x-2.x before 2.0-alpha4, 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.1, 6.x-2.x before 2.0-alpha4, and 6.x-3.x-dev before 2009-07-15, a module for Drupal, does not properly enforce privilege requirements for unspecified pages, which allows remote attackers to read the (1) title or (2) body of an arbitrary node via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2017
The CVE-2009-4558 vulnerability resides within the Image Assist module for Drupal, a widely used content management system that powers millions of websites worldwide. This module, designed to assist with image handling and manipulation within Drupal environments, contains a critical privilege escalation flaw that affects multiple version streams including 5.x-1.x, 5.x-2.x, 6.x-1.x, 6.x-2.x, and 6.x-3.x-dev. The vulnerability specifically targets the module's access control mechanisms, creating a scenario where unauthorized remote attackers can bypass intended security restrictions. The flaw manifests in the module's inability to properly validate user privileges when accessing certain pages, allowing malicious actors to exploit this weakness through unspecified attack vectors that remain undisclosed in the original CVE description.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and privilege checking within the Image Assist module's codebase. When users attempt to access node-related information through the module's interface, the system fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses adequate permissions to view the specific node data. This oversight creates a path for remote exploitation where attackers can craft requests to access arbitrary node titles and bodies without proper authentication or authorization. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the module's page access controls rather than underlying system vulnerabilities, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from outside the local network perimeter.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to Drupal-based websites that utilize the Image Assist module. Attackers who successfully exploit this flaw can gain access to sensitive content that may include confidential information, proprietary data, or private communications contained within Drupal nodes. The ability to read arbitrary node titles and bodies provides attackers with valuable intelligence about website content structure, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as targeted phishing campaigns, content theft, or further exploitation of other vulnerabilities within the Drupal ecosystem. The vulnerability affects not just individual websites but represents a potential threat vector that could impact numerous Drupal installations across different organizations and industries.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies to protect their Drupal environments. The most effective immediate action involves upgrading to the patched versions of the Image Assist module, specifically versions 5.x-1.8, 2.0-alpha4, 6.x-1.1, 2.0-alpha4, and the post-2009-07-15 development releases. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as access control lists, network segmentation, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues, and represents a clear example of how module-level security flaws can compromise entire web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation and credential access tactics, as attackers can leverage it to gain unauthorized access to content that should remain restricted to authorized users only.
The broader implications of CVE-2009-4558 highlight the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices within content management systems and web applications. This vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor access control oversights in third-party modules can create significant security risks for entire organizations. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their Drupal installations to identify all modules that may be affected by similar privilege escalation issues. Regular security assessments, including code reviews and vulnerability scanning, become essential practices for maintaining robust security postures. The incident also underscores the critical need for developers to follow secure coding practices and for organizations to maintain active security monitoring programs that can quickly identify and respond to emerging threats within their web application environments.