CVE-2011-3730 in Drupal
Summary
by MITRE
Drupal 7.0 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request to a .php file, which reveals the installation path in an error message, as demonstrated by modules/simpletest/tests/upgrade/drupal-6.upload.database.php and certain other files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3730 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Drupal 7.0 that exposes installation paths through direct file requests. This vulnerability falls under the category of improper error handling and information exposure, specifically mapping to CWE-200 which addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor. The issue manifests when attackers can directly access specific php files within the Drupal installation, particularly targeting the modules/simpletest/tests/upgrade/drupal-6.upload.database.php file and similar test components. These files contain error messages that inadvertently reveal the absolute file system path where Drupal is installed, providing attackers with critical system information that can be leveraged for further exploitation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through simple HTTP requests directed at specific test files within the Drupal codebase. When these files are accessed directly rather than through the proper Drupal routing mechanism, they trigger error conditions that display the installation path in the error output. This occurs because the test files contain code paths that are not properly secured against direct access, and they lack appropriate input validation or sanitization before error messages are generated. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it demonstrates a lack of proper access control mechanisms for test and development files that should never be accessible in production environments.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for Drupal 7.0 installations as it provides attackers with precise knowledge of the server's file system structure. The exposed installation paths can reveal not only the root directory but also potential subdirectory structures that may contain other sensitive files or applications. This information can be used to craft more sophisticated attacks, including directory traversal attempts, file inclusion exploits, or to identify other potentially vulnerable components within the same server environment. The vulnerability impacts all Drupal 7.0 installations that have not properly secured their test files or implemented appropriate access controls.
The security implications extend beyond simple information disclosure as this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 which involves exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities to gain system insights. Attackers can use the exposed paths to understand the server configuration, potentially identify version-specific vulnerabilities, or plan more targeted attacks against other services running on the same host. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security practices in code deployment and configuration management, as test files should never be accessible in production environments. Organizations should implement proper file access controls, ensure that test directories are not accessible through web servers, and regularly audit their file permissions to prevent such information disclosure scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of Drupal installations to versions that address this information disclosure issue, implementing proper access controls to prevent direct access to test files, and ensuring that all development and test components are properly secured in production environments. Security configurations should include web server directives that prevent access to sensitive directories, and organizations should establish robust deployment practices that automatically remove or secure test files during production deployment. Regular security audits and penetration testing should verify that no unintended file access paths exist, and compliance with security standards such as those outlined in ISO 27001 or NIST cybersecurity frameworks should include proper access control measures for all application components.