CVE-2014-9152 in Services
Summary
by MITRE
The _user_resource_create function in the Services module 7.x-3.x before 7.x-3.10 for Drupal uses a password of 1 when creating new user accounts, which makes it easier for remote attackers to guess the password via a brute force attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9152 resides within the Services module for Drupal, specifically affecting versions 7.x-3.x prior to 7.x-3.10. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that directly impacts user account creation processes through the module's _user_resource_create function. The issue stems from the module's implementation where newly created user accounts are automatically assigned a default password of "1" during the account creation workflow. This deliberate choice of a predictable and trivial password creates a significant attack surface that enables remote adversaries to exploit the system through brute force methodologies.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability manifests as a weak credential generation mechanism that violates fundamental security principles for user account management. The assignment of a default password consisting of a single digit creates an extremely weak authentication factor that can be easily guessed or enumerated through automated attack tools. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-259 and CWE-798, which address the use of hard-coded passwords and weak password generation practices. The flaw essentially provides attackers with a predetermined password that requires no computational effort to discover, making the exploitation process trivial and highly effective.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential compromise, as it enables unauthorized access to user accounts and potentially leads to further system infiltration. Remote attackers can systematically test this default password against multiple user accounts, significantly increasing their chances of successful authentication. The vulnerability affects the authentication and access control mechanisms of Drupal installations, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to user data, modify account settings, or escalate privileges within the system. This weakness particularly impacts organizations that rely on the Services module for API-based user management and remote account creation functionalities.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including updating the Services module to version 7.x-3.10 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the weak password generation issue. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as account lockout mechanisms, rate limiting for authentication attempts, and monitoring for suspicious login patterns. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the updated module to ensure compatibility with existing systems while verifying that proper password generation mechanisms are now in place. Additionally, administrators should conduct comprehensive security audits of all Drupal installations to identify and address similar vulnerabilities in other modules or custom implementations that may exhibit similar weak credential handling practices.