CVE-2012-1650 in ZipCart
Summary
by MITRE
The ZipCart module 6.x before 6.x-1.4 for Drupal checks the "access content" permission instead of the "access ZipCart downloads" permission when building archives, which allows remote authenticated users with access content permission to bypass intended access restrictions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1650 affects the ZipCart module version 6.x before 6.x-1.4 in the Drupal content management system. This security flaw represents a critical authorization bypass issue that undermines the intended access control mechanisms within the module. The vulnerability stems from improper permission checking during archive creation processes, where the module fails to enforce the specific "access ZipCart downloads" permission that should govern user access to downloadable content. Instead, it relies on the more general "access content" permission, which is typically granted to a broader range of users within the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the ZipCart module's archive building functionality where it performs permission validation. When users request to download archived content through the ZipCart module, the system should verify whether the requesting user possesses the specific "access ZipCart downloads" permission. However, due to the flawed implementation, the module defaults to checking the less restrictive "access content" permission instead. This design flaw allows authenticated users who have been granted basic content access but not specific ZipCart download permissions to bypass the intended access controls and obtain restricted content through the archive creation process.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for Drupal installations using the affected ZipCart module. Remote authenticated users who possess the "access content" permission can exploit this flaw to download content that should be restricted to users with explicit ZipCart download permissions. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it potentially exposes sensitive or proprietary content that administrators intended to keep restricted. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on Drupal for content management and use ZipCart for controlled distribution of downloadable materials, as it undermines the principle of least privilege that should govern access to sensitive resources.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems, and demonstrates how insufficient permission checking can lead to unauthorized access. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability corresponds to privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as it allows attackers to gain access to resources they should not be authorized to access. The flaw also reflects poor input validation and access control implementation patterns that are commonly exploited in web application attacks. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive access control reviews and permission auditing procedures to identify similar issues in their Drupal installations. The recommended mitigation involves upgrading to ZipCart module version 6.x-1.4 or later, which properly implements the "access ZipCart downloads" permission checking. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough permission reviews and implement network segmentation to limit potential impact if exploitation occurs. Regular security assessments of Drupal modules and core systems remain essential for identifying and addressing similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities that could compromise system integrity and data confidentiality.