CVE-2013-0226 in Keyboard Shortcut Utility
Summary
by MITRE
The Keyboard Shortcut Utility module 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.1 for Drupal does not properly check node restrictions, which allows (1) remote authenticated users with the "view shortcuts" permission to read nodes or (2) remote authenticated users with the "admin shortcuts" permission to read, edit, or delete nodes via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0226 affects the Keyboard Shortcut Utility module version 7.x-1.x of the Drupal content management system prior to version 7.x-1.1. This security flaw resides within the module's handling of node access controls and represents a significant authorization bypass issue that undermines the fundamental security model of Drupal installations. The vulnerability specifically targets the module's failure to properly validate node access restrictions when processing keyboard shortcut operations, creating pathways for unauthorized data access and modification.
The technical flaw manifests in the module's insufficient validation of user permissions and node access controls during keyboard shortcut processing. When users with the "view shortcuts" permission attempt to access nodes through the keyboard shortcut utility, or when users with the "admin shortcuts" permission perform administrative operations, the module fails to properly verify whether these users possess the necessary permissions to access the target nodes. This improper access control implementation creates a direct pathway for authenticated attackers to bypass Drupal's standard node access mechanisms, potentially allowing them to read, edit, or delete content they should not have access to. The vulnerability operates through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulation of shortcut configuration data or direct node references within the keyboard shortcut utility's processing logic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables authenticated attackers to perform unauthorized actions on sensitive content within Drupal installations. Remote authenticated users who possess either the "view shortcuts" or "admin shortcuts" permissions can leverage this flaw to gain access to restricted content, modify existing nodes, or even delete critical data. This represents a severe privilege escalation vulnerability that can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of Drupal sites, particularly those with multiple user roles and complex content access requirements. The vulnerability affects the core security model of Drupal installations and can lead to data breaches, content manipulation, and potential service disruption.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately upgrade to version 7.x-1.1 of the Keyboard Shortcut Utility module or implement alternative access control measures. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper node access validation within the shortcut utility's processing logic, ensuring that all shortcut operations respect Drupal's standard node access controls. Security administrators should also review user permissions and role configurations to minimize the attack surface, particularly focusing on limiting the "view shortcuts" and "admin shortcuts" permissions to trusted users only. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a significant concern under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access through privilege escalation. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their Drupal installations to identify any other modules that may exhibit similar access control flaws and implement comprehensive monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts.