CVE-2014-9154 in Notify
Summary
by MITRE
The Notify module 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.1 for Drupal does not properly restrict access to (1) new or (2) modified nodes or (3) their fields, which allows remote authenticated users to obtain node titles, teasers, and fields by reading a notification email.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2018
The CVE-2014-9154 vulnerability resides within the Notify module version 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.1 for the Drupal content management system, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of affected installations. This vulnerability specifically targets the module's handling of notification emails sent to users when nodes are created or modified, exposing sensitive information through improperly restricted access controls.
The technical flaw manifests in the module's failure to implement proper access validation when generating notification emails for node operations. When authenticated users trigger notifications for new or modified content, the system inadvertently includes detailed node information such as titles, teasers, and field data within the email communications. This occurs because the module does not verify whether the recipient has appropriate permissions to view the specific node content before including it in the notification. The vulnerability affects both newly created nodes and those that have been subsequently modified, creating a persistent exposure window.
Operationally, this vulnerability enables remote authenticated attackers to systematically gather sensitive information about content within a Drupal site without requiring elevated privileges or direct system access. An attacker with valid user credentials can exploit this flaw to obtain detailed knowledge of node titles, teaser excerpts, and field values, potentially revealing confidential information, intellectual property, or sensitive business data. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as attackers can use this intelligence to plan more sophisticated attacks, identify content patterns, or exploit other vulnerabilities within the site structure. This represents a significant bypass of Drupal's inherent access control mechanisms that should normally prevent unauthorized viewing of content.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Flaws, specifically addressing improper access control in notification systems, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1213 Data from Information Repositories, as it enables unauthorized access to stored information through notification mechanisms. Organizations running affected Drupal installations face substantial risk of data leakage, particularly in environments where content confidentiality is paramount. The flaw demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege, where notification systems should only expose information that recipients are authorized to access.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching to version 7.x-1.1 or later, which addresses the access control restrictions. Administrators should also implement additional monitoring of notification email patterns to detect unusual access behaviors. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit the impact of compromised accounts. Regular security audits of module configurations and access control settings are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the Drupal ecosystem. Organizations should also consider implementing email content filtering and access logging to further protect against unauthorized information disclosure through notification channels.