CVE-2012-2340 in Contact Forms
Summary
by MITRE
The Contact Forms module 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.2 for Drupal does not specify sufficiently restrictive permissions, which allows remote authenticated users with the "access the site-wide contact form" permission to modify the module settings via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/22/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2340 affects the Contact Forms module version 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.2 in the Drupal content management system. This issue represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that arises from insufficiently restrictive permission controls within the module's configuration handling mechanisms. The flaw specifically impacts authenticated users who possess the legitimate "access the site-wide contact form" permission, creating an unexpected security boundary that allows these users to manipulate module settings beyond their intended scope.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper access control validation within the Contact Forms module's administrative interfaces. When authenticated users with limited permissions attempt to interact with module configuration components, the system fails to properly verify whether these users should have the authority to modify core module settings. This weakness enables attackers to exploit the legitimate contact form access permission as a vector for gaining elevated privileges within the module's administrative framework. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability could be triggered through multiple pathways including direct parameter manipulation, form submission tampering, or other configuration interaction methods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple permission escalation, as it creates a potential pathway for attackers to modify critical module configurations that could affect site functionality, data handling, or security posture. An attacker could potentially alter contact form behavior, modify recipient addresses, change form validation rules, or adjust other module-specific settings that might compromise the integrity of user communications or expose sensitive configuration data. This vulnerability undermines the principle of least privilege by allowing users with minimal required permissions to access administrative functions that should be restricted to site administrators or users with higher privileges.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues, and represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign module permissions can be exploited to create security boundaries that are not properly enforced. In the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the 'Permission Groups' and 'Account Manipulation' tactics. The vulnerability also relates to the broader category of configuration management weaknesses that can be exploited to compromise system integrity.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the available patch version 7.x-1.2 or higher to address the permission validation issues within the Contact Forms module. System administrators should also conduct thorough audits of existing user permissions to ensure that the "access the site-wide contact form" permission is not being granted to users who do not require it for legitimate business purposes. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and monitoring of administrative access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The recommended mitigation strategy includes not only applying the security patch but also reviewing and tightening overall permission structures within Drupal installations to prevent similar issues from occurring in other modules or components of the system.