CVE-2012-2728 in Node Hierarchy
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the Node Hierarchy module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.5 for Drupal allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that change a node hierarchy position via an (1) up or (2) down action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/22/2018
The CVE-2012-2728 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Node Hierarchy module for Drupal platforms, specifically affecting versions 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.5. This vulnerability resides in the administrative interface of Drupal content management systems where users with administrative privileges manage content node hierarchies. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate the hierarchical positioning of content nodes through crafted requests that leverage CSRF techniques, potentially allowing unauthorized modifications to site structure and content organization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper CSRF protection mechanisms within the Node Hierarchy module's administrative endpoints. When administrators perform actions to move nodes up or down within the hierarchy, the module fails to validate the authenticity of these requests through anti-CSRF tokens or similar security measures. This omission creates a scenario where an attacker can craft malicious web pages or emails containing hidden form submissions that, when visited by an authenticated administrator, execute unintended node repositioning commands without the administrator's knowledge or consent. The vulnerability specifically targets two distinct actions within the module's interface, making it particularly dangerous as it affects core content management functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple content reorganization, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate site structure in ways that could disrupt content delivery, compromise site navigation, or potentially enable further attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could reorganize content hierarchies to hide malicious content, create confusion in site navigation, or establish persistent access points within the content structure. The administrative nature of the affected functionality means that successful exploitation directly compromises the integrity of the content management system, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate site organization in ways that could affect SEO rankings, user experience, or even provide pathways for additional attacks.
Security mitigation for CVE-2012-2728 requires immediate patching of the Node Hierarchy module to version 6.x-1.5 or later, which implements proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns, enforcing strict access controls for administrative functions, and conducting regular security audits of installed Drupal modules. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses, and represents a typical example of how insecure direct object references and missing authentication checks can lead to privilege escalation within content management systems. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence through content manipulation, highlighting the importance of securing administrative interfaces and implementing comprehensive CSRF protection mechanisms across all web applications.