CVE-2012-5584 in Tableofcontents
Summary
by MITRE
The Table of Contents module 6.x-3.x before 6.x-3.8 for Drupal does not properly check node permissions, which allows remote attackers to read a node s headers by accessing a table of contents block.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5584 affects the Table of Contents module version 6.x-3.x prior to 6.x-3.8 in the Drupal content management system. This security flaw represents a critical permission bypass issue that undermines the fundamental access control mechanisms designed to protect sensitive content within Drupal installations. The vulnerability specifically targets the module's handling of node permissions during table of contents block generation, creating an avenue for unauthorized information disclosure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user permissions when processing node data for table of contents display. The module fails to properly authenticate and authorize access requests for individual nodes within the generated table of contents blocks. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific requests that bypass the normal permission checking mechanisms, allowing them to retrieve header information from nodes they should not have access to. This flaw operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where content access is strictly controlled.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks within compromised Drupal environments. An attacker with access to the vulnerable system can gather intelligence about content structure, identify sensitive documents, and potentially map out the entire content hierarchy. This reconnaissance capability can lead to further exploitation attempts, including targeted attacks against specific content nodes or users with elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects all Drupal 6.x installations using the affected Table of Contents module version, potentially compromising thousands of websites that rely on proper access controls.
Security professionals should note this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control in software systems, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories. The lack of proper permission validation creates an attack surface that allows unauthorized users to access protected content, directly violating the principle of least privilege. Organizations should immediately implement the patch provided by the Drupal security team for version 6.x-3.8, as this represents a critical security update that addresses the core flaw in node permission handling. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough security audits to identify any other modules that might exhibit similar permission bypass vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies include immediate deployment of the official security patch, implementation of additional access controls through custom code validation, and comprehensive monitoring of access logs for suspicious activity related to table of contents block requests. Regular security assessments should verify that all Drupal modules maintain proper permission checking mechanisms, and organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in content management systems, particularly when dealing with user-generated content and hierarchical data structures.