CVE-2014-1398 in Entity API module
Summary
by MITRE
The entity wrapper access API in the Entity API module 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.3 for Drupal might allow remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions on comment, user and node statistics properties via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2021
The entity wrapper access API vulnerability in Drupal's Entity API module represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security model of the platform. This vulnerability affects versions 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.3 and specifically targets the entity wrapper functionality that handles access restrictions for various content types within the Drupal ecosystem. The flaw allows authenticated remote attackers to circumvent intended security boundaries that should prevent access to sensitive statistical data associated with comments, users, and nodes. This represents a significant deviation from the expected security posture where access controls should enforce proper authorization checks before allowing data retrieval.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access validation within the entity wrapper API functions. When users attempt to access statistical properties of comments, users, or nodes through the entity wrapper interface, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user has appropriate permissions to access this specific data. The unspecified vectors suggest that the flaw exists in the underlying access control logic that determines whether certain properties should be accessible based on user roles and permissions. This weakness manifests when the API does not properly enforce the entity access checks that should normally be applied to prevent unauthorized data exposure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. An authenticated attacker could exploit this flaw to gather sensitive information about user activity, comment patterns, and node statistics that would normally be restricted to administrators or specific user roles. This information could be leveraged for social engineering attacks, targeted phishing campaigns, or to map out user behavior patterns within the system. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where user privacy and data protection are paramount, as it allows unauthorized access to statistical data that might reveal sensitive operational information about the platform's user base and content management patterns.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching to address the access control bypass issue. The recommended remediation involves upgrading the Entity API module to version 7.x-1.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly enforce access restrictions within the entity wrapper API. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of their Drupal installations to identify any other modules that might be vulnerable to similar access control bypass issues. Additionally, implementing proper monitoring and logging of access attempts to sensitive statistical data can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and may be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and privilege escalation through unauthorized access to system information. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access control policies to limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, as the vulnerability affects core Drupal functionality that is integral to many web applications.