CVE-2014-5268 in Fasttoggle
Summary
by MITRE
The Fasttoggle module 7.x-1.3 and 7.x-1.4 for Drupal allows remote attackers to block or unblock an account via a crafted user status link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2018
The Fasttoggle module for Drupal represents a significant security vulnerability that emerged in versions 7.x-1.3 and 7.x-1.4, creating a critical access control flaw that could be exploited by remote attackers to manipulate user account statuses. This vulnerability falls under the category of unauthorized privilege escalation and account manipulation, where malicious actors could leverage crafted user status links to either block or unblock accounts without proper authentication or authorization. The module was designed to provide quick toggling of user account statuses, but the implementation contained a fundamental security flaw that bypassed the normal authentication mechanisms required for such critical operations.
The technical flaw within the Fasttoggle module stems from inadequate input validation and access control checks within the user status update functionality. When a user accesses a crafted status link, the module processes the request without properly verifying whether the requester possesses the necessary administrative privileges or if the action is being performed within the correct context. This vulnerability is classified as a weakness in authorization mechanisms, aligning with CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization in software systems. The flaw essentially allows any remote attacker who can predict or obtain a valid status link to perform account manipulation operations, effectively bypassing Drupal's standard user permission system and account management controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-5268 extends beyond simple account blocking or unblocking, as it represents a serious threat to the integrity and security of Drupal-based websites. An attacker could potentially use this vulnerability to disable administrator accounts, block legitimate users from accessing services, or even create new accounts with elevated privileges by manipulating the account status parameters. This type of vulnerability directly affects the availability and confidentiality aspects of the system, as it could lead to service disruption, unauthorized access to restricted resources, and potential data compromise. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no special privileges or credentials beyond knowledge of a valid status link, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation attempts.
Organizations running affected Drupal installations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of the Fasttoggle module, implementing proper access controls and input validation, and monitoring for suspicious account activity. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authorization checks in web applications, particularly for modules that handle sensitive account management functions. Security practitioners should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious status link requests, as well as establishing proper logging and monitoring procedures to identify unauthorized account manipulation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the critical need for thorough security testing of contributed modules, as third-party components often introduce unforeseen security risks that can compromise entire web applications. The incident underscores ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and account manipulation, where adversaries leverage application-level flaws to gain unauthorized access to system resources and user accounts.