CVE-2010-2353 in CCK
Summary
by MITRE
The Node Reference module in Content Construction Kit (CCK) module 6.x before 6.x-2.7 for Drupal does not perform access checks for the source field in the backend URL for the autocomplete widget, which allows remote attackers to discover titles and IDs of controlled nodes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-2353 represents a critical access control flaw within the Node Reference module of Drupal's Content Construction Kit (CCK) component. This issue affects Drupal 6.x versions prior to 6.x-2.7 and specifically targets the autocomplete widget functionality that enables content editors to reference other nodes within their content. The flaw exists in the backend URL handling mechanism where the module fails to properly validate user permissions before exposing node information to unauthorized users. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles by allowing unauthenticated or improperly authorized users to access restricted node data through a seemingly benign autocomplete feature.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the Node Reference module's autocomplete functionality. When users interact with the autocomplete widget in the Drupal backend, the system should verify that the requesting user has appropriate permissions to access the referenced node information. However, the module fails to perform these access checks, enabling attackers to craft requests to the backend URL that returns node titles and IDs without proper authorization. This behavior creates an information disclosure vulnerability where sensitive node metadata becomes accessible to users who should not have visibility into controlled content. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through HTTP requests that target the specific autocomplete endpoint, making it particularly dangerous as it allows for systematic enumeration of node data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable intelligence about the content structure and organization within a Drupal site. By discovering node titles and IDs, malicious actors can gain insights into content hierarchies, potentially identifying sensitive or confidential information that should remain restricted. This vulnerability particularly affects sites that rely heavily on content access controls and node-based workflows, where unauthorized users could use the discovered information to plan more sophisticated attacks or to identify specific content that might be targeted for exploitation. The vulnerability also undermines the principle of least privilege by allowing unauthorized access to node references that should only be available to authorized content editors or administrators.
Organizations affected by CVE-2010-2353 should prioritize immediate remediation through the upgrade of the CCK module to version 6.x-2.7 or later, which includes the necessary access control checks. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring of backend URL access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a classic example of how seemingly innocuous features can introduce significant security risks when access controls are not properly implemented. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to the reconnaissance phase where adversaries gather information about target systems, potentially enabling more targeted attacks against the identified content structure. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and access control lists to provide additional defense in depth measures against similar vulnerabilities that might exist in other components of their Drupal installations.