CVE-2012-1056 in Forward
Summary
by MITRE
The Forward module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.21 and 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.3 for Drupal does not properly enforce permissions for (1) Recent forwards, (2) Most forwarded, or (3) Dynamic blocks, which allows remote attackers to obtain node titles via unspecified vectors.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1056 affects the Forward module for Drupal content management systems, specifically versions 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.21 and 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.3. This security flaw represents a critical permission enforcement weakness that undermines the module's ability to properly restrict access to sensitive node information. The vulnerability resides within the module's handling of three specific block types: Recent forwards, Most forwarded, and Dynamic blocks, all of which are designed to display information about forwarded content within Drupal sites.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the Forward module's block rendering functions. When these blocks are configured and displayed on Drupal websites, they fail to properly validate user permissions before exposing node titles to unauthorized individuals. This permission bypass allows remote attackers to exploit unspecified vectors that enable them to retrieve node titles from content that should otherwise be restricted based on user roles and access levels. The flaw essentially permits information disclosure where attackers can access content metadata that should be protected by the site's permission system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable intelligence about the website's content structure and potentially sensitive node information. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to map the site's content hierarchy, identify high-value targets, and potentially discover content that might be protected by other security controls. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access or local system privileges, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible Drupal installations. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in system security design.
Organizations running affected Drupal installations should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to the patched versions of the Forward module, specifically 6.x-1.21 or 7.x-1.3, which contain the necessary permission enforcement fixes. Additionally, administrators should review and tighten access control configurations for all Forward module blocks, ensuring that only authorized users can access the dynamic content displays. Network-level mitigations such as implementing web application firewalls and access control lists can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers exploit for privilege escalation and T1213 which addresses data from information repositories. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns to forwarded content blocks, as this could indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their Drupal installations to identify other potential permission-related vulnerabilities in contributed modules.