CVE-2013-4598 in GCC Module
Summary
by MITRE
The Groups, Communities and Co (GCC) module 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.1 for Drupal does not properly check permission, which allows remote attackers to access the configuration pages via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4598 affects the Groups Communities and Co module for Drupal, specifically versions 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.1. This represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of Drupal installations relying on this module. The GCC module serves as a framework for managing groups, communities, and collaborative spaces within Drupal environments, making it a potentially attractive target for attackers seeking unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient permission validation mechanisms within the module's codebase, creating a pathway for remote exploitation that bypasses normal access controls.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper authorization checks when processing requests to configuration pages within the GCC module. Attackers can exploit this weakness through unspecified vectors that likely involve crafting malicious HTTP requests or manipulating URL parameters to gain access to administrative interfaces. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-284 category of Improper Access Control, where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions for protected resources. The vulnerability enables unauthorized users to access configuration pages that should only be available to authenticated administrators or users with appropriate privileges, potentially allowing for complete system compromise through configuration manipulation or data exfiltration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges and modify core system settings. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to view sensitive configuration data, potentially exposing database credentials, API keys, or other critical system information. The vulnerability also enables attackers to manipulate group memberships, modify community settings, or alter access permissions for other users within the Drupal installation. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1484.001 for Account Manipulation, as compromised access to configuration pages can lead to persistent unauthorized access and privilege escalation within the system. Organizations using affected Drupal versions may face significant security risks including data breaches, service disruption, and potential compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-4598 primarily involve upgrading to the patched version 7.x-1.1 or later of the GCC module, which addresses the permission validation issues through proper access control implementation. System administrators should immediately assess their Drupal installations to identify affected modules and apply the necessary security updates. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, and monitoring access logs for suspicious activities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security auditing and patch management processes, as well as the need for comprehensive security testing of third-party modules before deployment. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting known vulnerabilities in content management systems.