CVE-2012-4498 in Activism
Summary
by MITRE
The Activism module 6.x-2.x before 6.x-2.1 for Drupal does not properly restrict access to the "Campaign" content type, which might allow remote attackers to bypass access restrictions and possibly have other unspecified impact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4498 affects the Activism module version 6.x-2.x prior to 6.x-2.1 within the Drupal content management system. This security flaw resides in the module's handling of access controls for the "Campaign" content type, creating a significant authorization bypass opportunity for remote attackers. The issue stems from improper implementation of access restriction mechanisms that should have prevented unauthorized users from accessing sensitive campaign-related content. The vulnerability represents a critical weakness in Drupal's permission system where the module fails to enforce proper access controls, potentially allowing attackers to view, modify, or manipulate campaign data that should be restricted to authorized personnel only.
The technical flaw manifests in the module's inadequate validation of user permissions when accessing campaign content types. Specifically, the access control checks do not properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to view or interact with campaign data. This oversight creates a path for attackers to bypass the intended authorization mechanisms that should restrict access to campaign content based on user roles and permissions. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or specific user credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone with network access to the vulnerable Drupal site. The lack of proper access restriction validation means that attackers can potentially access sensitive campaign information, manipulate campaign data, or perform actions that should be restricted to specific user roles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it could enable attackers to compromise the integrity and confidentiality of campaign-related information. Organizations using the Activism module may face significant risks including exposure of sensitive campaign strategies, donor information, or other confidential data that should remain protected. The unspecified nature of the potential impacts suggests that the vulnerability might also enable additional attack vectors beyond simple access bypass, potentially allowing for privilege escalation or further exploitation of the Drupal platform. This weakness could be particularly damaging for organizations engaged in political activism, social causes, or any campaign work where confidentiality and data integrity are paramount to their operations.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Activism module version 6.x-2.1 or later to remediate this vulnerability. The patch addresses the improper access control implementation by ensuring that campaign content types properly enforce user permissions and role-based access restrictions. Security administrators should also conduct thorough access control reviews to verify that no unauthorized access has occurred since the vulnerability was introduced. Additional mitigations include implementing network-level restrictions, monitoring access logs for suspicious activity, and ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to campaign-related content. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues in software systems, and could potentially map to ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and unauthorized access. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses in other modules and components of the Drupal platform.