CVE-2012-4553 in Drupal
Summary
by MITRE
Drupal 7.x before 7.16 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information and possibly re-install Drupal and execute arbitrary PHP code via an external database server, related to "transient conditions."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4553 represents a critical security flaw in Drupal 7.x versions prior to 7.16 that exposes systems to remote code execution and information disclosure attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the database connection handling mechanisms within Drupal's core architecture, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit transient conditions that occur during database server communication. The flaw stems from inadequate validation of external database server responses, allowing malicious actors to manipulate database connection parameters and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited without authentication, making them attractive targets for automated attack tools and malicious actors seeking to compromise web applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of database connection states and transient conditions that occur when Drupal attempts to establish connections with external database servers. When Drupal processes database queries, it fails to adequately validate or sanitize responses from external database servers, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious data that can be interpreted as valid database commands. This weakness falls under the category of improper input validation and can be classified as CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation" in software security. The vulnerability particularly affects systems that utilize external database servers or those that dynamically configure database connections, making it relevant to a wide range of Drupal implementations that rely on external database infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4553 extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential complete system compromise through remote code execution capabilities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to reinstall Drupal core components, effectively bypassing normal installation procedures and gaining access to system-level functionality. The ability to execute arbitrary PHP code through this vulnerability means that malicious actors can establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or perform further attacks against the compromised system. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell," and can be used to establish command execution capabilities that align with the broader attack chain. Organizations running vulnerable Drupal installations face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential regulatory compliance violations due to the severity of the attack surface this vulnerability exposes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4553 focus primarily on immediate system updates and configuration hardening. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to Drupal 7.16 or later versions where the vulnerability has been patched through improved database connection handling and enhanced input validation mechanisms. System administrators should also implement network-level restrictions to limit database server access to trusted sources only, reducing the attack surface for external exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include implementing proper database connection pooling, enabling secure database protocols such as SSL/TLS encryption for database communications, and conducting regular security audits of database configuration settings. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor for unusual database connection patterns or unauthorized access attempts that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The patch addressing this vulnerability specifically enhances Drupal's database abstraction layer to properly handle transient conditions and prevents malicious responses from external database servers from being processed as legitimate commands, thereby closing the attack vector that enabled remote code execution and information disclosure.