CVE-2014-1400 in Entity API module
Summary
by MITRE
The entity_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before 7.x-1.3 for Drupal might allow remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions and read unpublished comments via unspecified vectors.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2021
The CVE-2014-1400 vulnerability resides within the Entity API module for Drupal, specifically affecting version 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.3. This security flaw represents a critical access control bypass issue that undermines the fundamental security model of Drupal's content management system. The vulnerability specifically targets the entity_access API functionality, which is responsible for managing access permissions and restrictions within the Drupal framework. When exploited, this vulnerability allows authenticated users to circumvent intended access controls and read unpublished comments that should normally be restricted to authorized personnel only.
The technical flaw manifests through unspecified vectors within the entity_access API implementation, where proper access validation mechanisms fail to adequately verify user permissions before granting access to unpublished content. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability that operates at the application logic level rather than through network-level attacks. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it affects the core access control mechanisms that protect sensitive content, including unpublished comments that may contain confidential information, internal discussions, or draft content that has not yet been approved for public viewing. The unspecified vectors suggest that the flaw could be exploited through multiple pathways within the API's permission checking logic, making it challenging to predict all potential attack surfaces.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Drupal's content management capabilities, as it allows authenticated users to access content that should remain private or restricted. The ability to read unpublished comments undermines the integrity of content review processes and can expose sensitive discussions or internal communications that were intentionally kept confidential. This vulnerability particularly affects websites that utilize Drupal's comment system extensively, where unpublished comments might contain administrative discussions, security concerns, or other sensitive information that should only be accessible to specific user roles. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can compromise the overall security posture of the website by enabling unauthorized access to potentially sensitive content that forms part of the site's operational workflow.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including upgrading to Entity API module version 7.x-1.3 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the access control bypass. System administrators should also review and validate current user role permissions to ensure that access restrictions are properly enforced, particularly for comment-related functionality. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern all access control mechanisms within web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be leveraged by threat actors to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information within the Drupal ecosystem, potentially leading to further exploitation opportunities within the broader attack surface.