CVE-2014-5250 in Biblio Autocomplete
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the AJAX autocompletion callback in the Biblio Autocomplete module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.1 and 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.5 for Drupal allows remote attackers to access data via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5250 affects the Biblio Autocomplete module in Drupal versions 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.1 and 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.5. This issue resides within the AJAX autocompletion callback functionality that handles autocomplete requests for bibliographic data. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests multiple potential attack surfaces within the module's implementation of asynchronous data retrieval and response handling. The module's failure to properly validate or sanitize input parameters during AJAX requests creates a potential exposure that could be exploited by remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The technical flaw manifests in the module's inadequate handling of user-supplied input within the AJAX callback mechanism. When the Biblio Autocomplete module processes autocomplete requests through AJAX, it likely fails to implement proper input validation, parameter sanitization, or access control checks before returning bibliographic data. This weakness creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the autocomplete functionality to retrieve information that should be restricted or protected. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and could potentially allow for information disclosure, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration depending on the specific implementation details of how the module processes and returns bibliographic information.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant security risk for Drupal installations using the affected Biblio Autocomplete module. Remote attackers could exploit this weakness to access bibliographic data that may contain sensitive information such as publication details, author information, or other scholarly resources. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure as this vulnerability could potentially serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, allowing threat actors to gather intelligence about the organization's research holdings or academic resources. The vulnerability affects both Drupal 6 and 7 branches, indicating a widespread potential impact across different versions of the content management system.
The security implications of CVE-2014-5250 align with common weaknesses documented in the CWE database, particularly CWE-20 for Improper Input Validation and CWE-284 for Improper Access Control. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns found in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of credential access and data exposure. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to the patched versions of the Biblio Autocomplete module, reviewing and restricting access to the affected AJAX endpoints, and implementing proper input validation controls. Additional protective measures should include network segmentation, monitoring for unusual AJAX request patterns, and conducting thorough security assessments of all third-party modules to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date Drupal core and contributed modules, as well as implementing comprehensive security controls for all web application components that handle user input and provide data services.