CVE-2014-9504 in Open Atrium
Summary
by MITRE
The OG Subgroups module, when used with the Open Atrium module 7.x-2.x before 7.x-2.26 for Drupal, allows remote attackers to access child groups via vectors related to membership inheritance.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9504 affects the OG Subgroups module within the Drupal content management system, specifically when integrated with the Open Atrium module version 7.x-2.x prior to 7.x-2.26. This security flaw represents a critical access control issue that undermines the fundamental security model of group-based content management systems. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of membership inheritance mechanisms that govern how permissions flow between parent and child groups within the Drupal ecosystem.
The technical flaw manifests in the module's failure to properly validate access permissions when users attempt to navigate from parent groups to their child groups. This occurs due to insufficient input validation and access control checks within the membership inheritance logic. When a user accesses a child group, the system should verify that the user has appropriate permissions based on their membership status in the parent group, but the vulnerability allows unauthorized access through manipulated requests that bypass these checks. The issue is particularly dangerous because it operates at the core of group membership management, where proper access control is paramount for maintaining data integrity and confidentiality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling attackers to gain elevated privileges within group-based content systems. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to view, edit, or manipulate content that should be restricted to specific group members or administrators. This breach of access control can result in information disclosure, data manipulation, and potential privilege escalation within the Drupal environment. The vulnerability affects organizations using Drupal's social networking and collaboration features, particularly those implementing complex group hierarchies where proper access control is essential for maintaining organizational security boundaries.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Open Atrium module version 7.x-2.26 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the membership inheritance validation issues. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough access control audits to identify any unauthorized group memberships that may have occurred due to this vulnerability. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns related to group membership changes, and role-based access control policies should be reviewed to ensure proper segregation of duties. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and privilege escalation, emphasizing the need for robust identity and access management practices. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and additional authentication controls to minimize the potential impact of such access control failures within their Drupal deployments.