CVE-2012-4500 in Announcements
Summary
by MITRE
The Announcements module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.5 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users with the "access announcements" permission to bypass node 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-2012-4500 affects the Announcements module version 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.5 in the Drupal content management system. This security flaw represents a significant access control bypass issue that undermines the fundamental security model of Drupal installations. The vulnerability specifically targets authenticated users who possess the "access announcements" permission, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to content that should otherwise be restricted. The module's failure to properly enforce node access controls creates a vector for privilege escalation and potential data exposure. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of Drupal-based systems, particularly those relying on role-based access control mechanisms to protect sensitive information.
The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate validation within the Announcements module's access control logic. When authenticated users request access to announcements nodes, the module fails to properly verify whether the requesting user has appropriate permissions for the specific content being accessed. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks that aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems. The vulnerability allows attackers to bypass the standard node access restrictions that Drupal normally enforces, potentially enabling them to view announcements content that they should not be permitted to access. The flaw exists at the application level within the module's access control implementation rather than at the database or network level.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more severe security consequences. An attacker with the "access announcements" permission could gain access to sensitive announcements that contain confidential information, internal communications, or privileged content. This access bypass could lead to data leakage, information gathering for further attacks, or disruption of normal operations. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in environments where announcements modules contain sensitive information or where the module is used to distribute privileged content. Organizations relying on Drupal for mission-critical applications face potential reputational damage, regulatory compliance issues, and operational disruption if this vulnerability is exploited. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to gather intelligence about system configurations and content structures.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate patching of the Announcements module to version 6.x-1.5 or later, which contains the necessary access control fixes. System administrators should also implement comprehensive monitoring to detect unusual access patterns or unauthorized attempts to access announcements content. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their Drupal installations to identify any other modules that may be vulnerable to similar access control bypass issues. Additionally, implementing proper role-based access controls and regularly reviewing user permissions can help minimize the potential impact if similar vulnerabilities are discovered in other components. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and following security best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. The incident underscores the necessity of conducting regular security audits and maintaining updated security patches to protect against known vulnerabilities that could be exploited by threat actors.