CVE-2010-4775 in Relevant Content
Summary
by MITRE
The Relevant Content module 5.x before 5.x-1.4 and 6.x before 6.x-1.5 for Drupal does not properly implement node access logic, which allows remote attackers to discover restricted node titles and relationships.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4775 affects the Relevant Content module in Drupal 5.x versions prior to 5.x-1.4 and Drupal 6.x versions prior to 6.x-1.5. This issue represents a significant security flaw in the module's implementation of node access controls, which are fundamental to Drupal's content management system security architecture. The problem lies in how the module handles access permissions for nodes, specifically failing to properly enforce the access restrictions that should prevent unauthorized users from discovering protected content.
The technical flaw manifests in the module's node access logic where it does not adequately validate user permissions when retrieving or displaying node information. This improper implementation creates a situation where remote attackers can bypass normal access controls to discover restricted node titles and their relationships within the system. The vulnerability essentially allows for information disclosure through the exposure of node metadata that should remain hidden from unauthorized users. This type of flaw falls under the category of insufficient access control mechanisms as defined by CWE-284, which specifically addresses inadequate access control implementations that allow unauthorized access to resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables attackers to gather intelligence about the content structure and relationships within a Drupal site. By discovering restricted node titles and their connections, attackers can map out the site's content hierarchy and potentially identify sensitive information or content that should remain private. This information disclosure can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks, including targeted exploitation of specific content types or identification of potential vulnerabilities in related modules. The exposure of node relationships particularly undermines the security model by revealing how different pieces of content are connected, which could be leveraged to understand the site's overall architecture and data flow patterns.
From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1068 privilege escalation and T1083 reconnaissance techniques, as it allows attackers to discover system information and potentially escalate their access level through the exposure of restricted content. The vulnerability also aligns with T1566 credential harvesting, as the information disclosure can aid in understanding access patterns and potentially lead to further credential compromise. Organizations using affected versions of the Relevant Content module face a heightened risk of targeted attacks, as the exposed node relationships provide attackers with valuable information about content access patterns and potential targets within the system.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediately upgrading to the patched versions of the Relevant Content module for both Drupal 5.x and 6.x platforms. System administrators should prioritize this update as a critical security measure, particularly for sites containing sensitive or restricted content. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security audits to identify any other modules that might have similar access control implementation flaws, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper permission enforcement in content management systems. The fix implemented in the patched versions should include comprehensive validation of node access permissions and proper enforcement of access control rules to prevent unauthorized discovery of restricted content.