CVE-2014-5179 in Freelinking for Case Tracker
Summary
by MITRE
The freelinking module for Drupal, as used in the Freelinking for Case Tracker module, does not properly check access permissions for (1) nodes or (2) users, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5179 resides within the freelinking module of Drupal, specifically affecting the Freelinking for Case Tracker module implementation. This flaw represents a critical access control weakness that undermines the fundamental security principles of the Drupal content management system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions within the module's link processing functionality, creating a pathway for unauthorized information disclosure. The issue manifests when the module fails to properly verify whether an authenticated user possesses adequate privileges to access specific nodes or user accounts referenced in crafted links. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor input validation practices that are commonly associated with privilege escalation vulnerabilities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of link parameters within the freelinking module's processing logic. Attackers can construct malicious links that reference nodes or user profiles without proper authorization checks, potentially exposing confidential data to unauthorized users. The flaw exists in the module's access control validation mechanism, where it fails to perform adequate permission verification before rendering or processing links to sensitive content. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically related to insufficient access control checks for node and user resources. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that Drupal's core architecture relies heavily on proper access control mechanisms to maintain data integrity and confidentiality across different user roles and permissions levels.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing Drupal-based case tracking systems or content management platforms where sensitive information is stored in nodes and user accounts. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can potentially access confidential case data, user profiles, or other protected content without requiring local system access or elevated privileges. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity aspects of the CIA triad, as it allows unauthorized data disclosure and could potentially lead to further exploitation if the compromised information includes user credentials or system access details. The attack surface is particularly concerning in environments where case tracking modules handle sensitive information such as legal cases, medical records, or financial data where unauthorized access could result in severe compliance violations and data breaches.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the Freelinking for Case Tracker module and Drupal core, ensuring proper access control configurations are in place, and implementing additional network-level controls such as web application firewalls. The remediation process should involve thorough security testing of all modules that interact with node and user access controls, particularly those that process external links or references. Security administrators should also conduct comprehensive access control audits to identify any other modules or custom code that may exhibit similar permission validation flaws. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts demonstrates how weaknesses in access control can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to sensitive resources, making it essential for organizations to maintain robust access control policies and regular security assessments. Implementation of proper input validation, access control checks, and regular security updates forms the cornerstone of defense against this type of information disclosure vulnerability.