CVE-2012-2296 in RPX
Summary
by MITRE
The Janrain Engage (formerly RPX) module for Drupal 6.x-1.x. 6.x-2.x before 6.x-2.2, and 7.x-2.x before 7.x-2.2 stores user profile data from Engage in session tables, which might allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by leveraging a separate vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2019
The CVE-2012-2296 vulnerability affects the Janrain Engage module for Drupal, a widely used social login and user management solution that integrates with various authentication providers. This module, which was formerly known as RPX, provides federated identity management capabilities for Drupal websites. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions 6.x-1.x and 6.x-2.x before 6.x-2.2, as well as 7.x-2.x before 7.x-2.2, creating a significant security risk for Drupal installations that rely on this authentication module for user profile management and social login functionality.
The technical flaw in this vulnerability stems from the insecure handling of user profile data within the module's session management system. When users authenticate through Janrain Engage, their profile information is stored in Drupal's session tables rather than being properly encrypted or secured in the main user database. This design decision creates a dangerous exposure point where sensitive user information such as email addresses, names, and other profile details can be accessed through session table queries. The vulnerability becomes particularly dangerous when combined with other weaknesses in the Drupal installation, as attackers can leverage the session table access to obtain sensitive personal information that would normally be protected within the standard user account system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for attackers to perform various malicious activities including credential stuffing, social engineering attacks, and identity theft. When session tables contain unencrypted user profile data, threat actors can potentially harvest this information even if they cannot directly access the main database. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and represents a specific implementation weakness in how session data is managed and stored. Attackers could exploit this through various vectors including SQL injection attacks that target session tables, or by leveraging other vulnerabilities that provide access to the session storage mechanism, making this a particularly dangerous issue for organizations that rely on social authentication for user management.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to the patched versions 6.x-2.2 and 7.x-2.2 of the Janrain Engage module, which address the insecure session data handling. Security teams should also review their session management configurations and consider implementing additional database access controls to limit direct access to session tables. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper data handling practices in authentication modules and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers "Phishing" and related social engineering attacks that can be facilitated by information disclosure vulnerabilities. Organizations should also conduct thorough security audits of all authentication-related modules and implement proper input validation and data sanitization practices to prevent similar issues in other components of their Drupal installations.