CVE-2012-5588 in Email
Summary
by MITRE
The Email Field module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.3 for Drupal, when using a field permission module and the field contact field formatter is set to the full or teaser display mode, does not properly check permissions, which allows remote attackers to email the stored address via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5588 affects the Email Field module version 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.3 in the Drupal content management system. This security flaw specifically impacts installations that utilize field permission modules alongside the field contact field formatter configured in full or teaser display modes. The issue stems from insufficient permission validation mechanisms within the module's email delivery functionality, creating a potential avenue for unauthorized information disclosure and email injection attacks.
The technical flaw resides in the module's failure to properly validate user permissions before executing email transmission operations. When a field contact field formatter is configured for full or teaser display modes, the module should verify that the requesting user possesses appropriate permissions to access or send emails to the stored addresses. However, the vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass these permission checks through unspecified vectors, potentially enabling them to send emails to addresses stored within the system without proper authorization. This represents a critical breakdown in the access control mechanisms that should govern email functionality within Drupal's field-based architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized email sending, as it can facilitate various malicious activities including spam distribution, data exfiltration, and social engineering attacks. Attackers could potentially exploit this flaw to send targeted emails to users whose addresses are stored in the system, or to relay messages through the vulnerable Drupal installation as a means of bypassing spam filters. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple attack pathways may exist, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations with extensive email contact management systems. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and can be classified under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms in software systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the available patch releases, specifically upgrading to Email Field module version 6.x-1.3 or later. The recommended mitigation strategy involves verifying that field permission modules are properly configured and that all access controls are functioning correctly. System administrators should also conduct thorough audits of field formatter configurations to ensure that full and teaser display modes are not inadvertently exposing email functionality to unauthorized users. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for unusual email sending patterns and implementing rate limiting mechanisms can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers exploitation of remote services, and represents a classic example of insufficient authorization checks that can lead to privilege escalation and information disclosure attacks within web application environments.