CVE-2012-2305 in Node Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Node Gallery module for Drupal 6.x-3.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of certain users for requests that create node galleries.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2018
The CVE-2012-2305 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Node Gallery module for Drupal version 6.x-3.1 and earlier. This vulnerability exists in the web application's security architecture where the module fails to implement proper anti-CSRF mechanisms, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to manipulate authenticated user sessions. The vulnerability specifically affects the node gallery creation functionality, which is a core feature of the Drupal content management system's node gallery module. When users access certain pages within the Drupal interface, particularly those related to gallery creation, the application does not adequately validate the origin of requests, making it susceptible to unauthorized operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of CSRF tokens or similar validation mechanisms in the Node Gallery module's form handling process. In a typical CSRF attack scenario, an attacker crafts malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate authenticated users. The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the lack of request verification by creating forged requests that leverage existing user sessions. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer, where user authentication is already established, meaning that attackers can perform actions with the privileges of authenticated users without requiring additional credentials. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the web application's security controls, specifically in the validation of user intent and request authenticity.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2305 extends beyond simple data manipulation to encompass potential complete account compromise and unauthorized content creation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to create node galleries on behalf of authenticated users, which may include malicious content or be used to establish persistence within the system. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can be classified under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses. The attack vector requires minimal technical skill and can be executed through simple web-based techniques, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently access web applications with elevated privileges. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers phishing and social engineering methods that can be used to deliver CSRF payloads.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically involves the creation of malicious web pages or email attachments that contain embedded requests to the target Drupal site. When authenticated users visit these pages, the browser automatically submits requests to the vulnerable application without their knowledge or consent. The Node Gallery module's implementation lacks proper request validation, making it impossible for the system to distinguish between legitimate user-initiated requests and maliciously crafted ones. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing comprehensive anti-CSRF measures, particularly in modules that handle user data or perform privileged operations. The vulnerability also highlights the need for regular security auditing of third-party modules, as the Node Gallery module was not properly validated for security compliance. Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense including proper CSRF token implementation, request origin verification, and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from compromising their web applications.