CVE-2012-2721 in Organic Groups
Summary
by MITRE
The default views in the Organic Groups (OG) module 6.x-2.x before 6.x-2.4 for Drupal do not properly check permissions when all users have the "access content" permission removed, which allows remote attackers to bypass access restrictions and possibly have other unspecified impact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2721 affects the Organic Groups module version 6.x-2.x prior to 6.x-2.4 in Drupal platforms, representing a critical authorization bypass flaw that undermines the security model of group-based content access controls. This issue specifically manifests in the default views implementation where the module fails to properly validate user permissions when the "access content" permission has been revoked from all users, creating a scenario where unauthorized individuals can circumvent intended access restrictions. The flaw exists within the core permission checking mechanisms of the Organic Groups module, which is designed to manage group memberships and content access within Drupal environments, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on group-based content management.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper permission validation logic within the module's default view implementations. When administrators remove the "access content" permission from all users as a security measure, the Organic Groups module should enforce strict access controls to prevent unauthorized content viewing. However, due to flawed permission checking code, the module continues to grant access to group content even when users lack proper authorization. This represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and access control enforcement, where the system fails to properly verify user credentials against the established permission hierarchy. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the view level, meaning that attackers can potentially access content through various interface points without proper authentication, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries that should separate different user groups and their respective content access levels.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2721 extends beyond simple unauthorized content access, as it creates potential for data exposure and information disclosure across multiple group-based content repositories. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain access to sensitive group communications, private documents, and other protected content that should only be visible to authorized group members. This flaw particularly affects organizations using Drupal for collaborative environments, community platforms, or enterprise group management systems where content isolation is critical for maintaining confidentiality and compliance requirements. The vulnerability may also enable attackers to perform reconnaissance activities by discovering content structures and group memberships, potentially leading to further exploitation opportunities within the broader Drupal ecosystem. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in permission checking mechanisms and access control enforcement, specifically categorized under CWE-284 for improper access control and CWE-285 for improper authorization. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, as it allows unauthorized access through legitimate user interfaces.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the patch released with Organic Groups module version 6.x-2.4, which addresses the permission validation logic and ensures proper access control enforcement. System administrators should conduct thorough audits of their group-based content access configurations to identify any potential exploitation that may have occurred prior to patching. The remediation process involves updating the Organic Groups module to the patched version while also reviewing and reconfiguring any custom views or modules that may interact with group access controls. Security teams should implement monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and consider additional defensive measures such as network segmentation and enhanced logging of group access activities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper permission management and access control validation in content management systems, particularly in multi-user environments where group-based access controls are fundamental to information security. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege practices and regularly reviewing permission assignments to minimize potential impact from similar vulnerabilities in other modules or components of their Drupal installations.