CVE-2014-1399 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 referenced entities via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-1399 represents a critical access control flaw within the Entity API module for Drupal 7.x-1.x versions prior to 7.x-1.3. This issue affects the entity wrapper access API functionality that governs how referenced entities are handled within Drupal's content management framework. The vulnerability specifically targets the authorization mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized access to entities that are referenced within other entities, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to bypass intended security boundaries.
The technical flaw stems from improper validation within the entity wrapper access API implementation where the module fails to adequately verify access permissions for referenced entities. This allows authenticated users to exploit unspecified vectors that enable them to access content they should not be authorized to view. The vulnerability operates at the application level within Drupal's entity system, specifically targeting how the system handles relationships between entities and validates access rights across these relationships. The weakness manifests when the system processes entity references and fails to properly enforce the access control policies that should govern such relationships, creating a scenario where users can traverse entity boundaries without proper authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in Drupal's access control model. An attacker with authenticated access to a Drupal site can leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive content that should be restricted to specific user roles or permissions. This could result in unauthorized access to confidential information, user data, or system resources that are typically protected by Drupal's permission system. The vulnerability affects the core entity relationship handling functionality, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of data across multiple content types and user roles within the affected Drupal installation.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Flaws, specifically addressing improper access control mechanisms within software applications. The issue demonstrates a failure in implementing proper authorization checks when processing entity relationships, which falls under the broader category of privilege escalation vulnerabilities. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as it leverages existing authenticated user sessions to bypass access controls rather than requiring additional credential compromise. The vulnerability also relates to T1566 Impersonation by exploiting the trust relationships between entities within the Drupal system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-1399 primarily focus on immediate patching of the Entity API module to version 7.x-1.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the access control validation issues. Organizations should also implement comprehensive access control reviews to identify and remediate any custom modules or configurations that might interact with entity references in ways that could expose similar vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and monitoring of entity access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while regular security audits of Drupal installations should include verification of all entity-related modules and their access control implementations. Additionally, implementing proper role-based access control policies and regularly reviewing user permissions can help minimize the potential impact should exploitation occur, though the primary defense remains the application of the official security patch.