CVE-2012-2153 in Drupal
Summary
by MITRE
Drupal 7.x before 7.14 does not properly restrict access to nodes in a list when using a "contributed node access module," which allows remote authenticated users with the "Access the content overview page" permission to read all published nodes by accessing the admin/content page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-2153 represents a critical access control flaw within the Drupal content management system that specifically affects versions prior to 7.14. This issue stems from inadequate permission validation mechanisms within the node access subsystem, particularly when third-party contributed modules are utilized to extend the core functionality of Drupal's content management capabilities. The vulnerability manifests when administrators implement node access modules that are designed to provide granular permissions for content access, creating a scenario where the system fails to properly enforce these access restrictions.
The technical flaw occurs at the application level within Drupal's core access control mechanisms, where the system does not adequately validate user permissions when processing requests for node listings. This particular weakness allows authenticated users who possess the specific "Access the content overview page" permission to bypass normal content access controls and retrieve information about all published nodes within the system. The vulnerability operates through a direct exploitation path that leverages the administrative interface, specifically targeting the admin/content page which serves as a central hub for content management operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it effectively grants unauthorized users access to content that should be restricted based on their assigned permissions and roles. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gather intelligence about published content, potentially including sensitive information that should only be accessible to authorized personnel. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality aspect of the information security triad by enabling unauthorized information disclosure, which can lead to data breaches and compromise of organizational assets. This issue particularly impacts organizations that rely on Drupal for content management and have implemented custom or contributed node access modules to control content visibility.
Security practitioners should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of improper access control, which aligns with CWE-285, improper access control, and represents a variant of privilege escalation or information disclosure attacks that map to ATT&CK techniques such as T1078 for valid accounts and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The vulnerability demonstrates how third-party modules can introduce security gaps even when the core system appears to be functioning correctly, highlighting the importance of thorough security testing for contributed modules. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Drupal version 7.14 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the access control bypass. Additionally, administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of all installed contributed modules to identify potential security implications and consider implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls and monitoring solutions to detect anomalous access patterns.
The remediation process requires careful attention to ensure that the upgrade does not introduce compatibility issues with existing custom modules or themes, as the Drupal security team recommends thorough testing in staging environments before deployment. Organizations should also review their current access control policies and permissions to ensure that they are properly configured and that users have only the minimum necessary privileges to perform their duties. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping content management systems updated and the potential risks associated with third-party module integration in enterprise security environments.