CVE-2015-3234 in Drupal
Summary
by MITRE
The OpenID module in Drupal 6.x before 6.36 and 7.x before 7.38 allows remote attackers to log into other users' accounts by leveraging an OpenID identity from certain providers, as demonstrated by the Verisign, LiveJournal, and StackExchange providers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3234 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within the OpenID module of Drupal core versions 6.x prior to 6.36 and 7.x prior to 7.38. This security weakness stems from improper validation of OpenID identity assertions, specifically affecting users who authenticate through certain third-party providers including Verisign, LiveJournal, and StackExchange. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the authentication mechanism and gain unauthorized access to other users' accounts, fundamentally undermining the security model of the affected Drupal installations. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity of user authentication and authorization processes, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and unauthorized system access.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient verification of OpenID identity claims within the Drupal authentication flow. When users attempt to log in using OpenID, the system receives identity assertions from external providers that should be validated against the claimed identity. However, the vulnerable OpenID module fails to properly validate these assertions, allowing attackers to manipulate the authentication process. The flaw specifically affects certain OpenID providers that return identity claims in formats or structures that the Drupal module does not adequately verify, creating a window where malicious actors can substitute their own identity claims for legitimate users. This represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and authentication verification, categorized under CWE-287 for improper authentication and CWE-347 for flawed certificate validation. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1110 for credential access through exploitation of authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3234 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially compromise entire Drupal installations and their associated data. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can assume the identities of legitimate users, potentially gaining access to sensitive content, administrative functions, and user data. The scope of impact is particularly concerning given that OpenID authentication was commonly used in Drupal sites, making this vulnerability widespread across numerous installations. Organizations using affected Drupal versions face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized content modifications, and potential system compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require special privileges or complex attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers with minimal technical expertise. This flaw essentially undermines the trust model of web applications relying on OpenID authentication, creating persistent security risks that could remain undetected for extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3234 focus primarily on immediate patching of affected Drupal installations to the recommended versions 6.36 and 7.38 which contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should prioritize updating their Drupal core installations and verifying that all modules are compatible with the patched versions. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing additional authentication controls such as two-factor authentication or CAPTCHA mechanisms to add layers of security beyond the vulnerable OpenID implementation. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns or multiple failed login attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and authentication verification in web applications, emphasizing the need for robust security practices in identity management systems. Organizations should also review their authentication policies and consider limiting the use of OpenID providers that exhibit known vulnerabilities, while ensuring comprehensive testing of security patches before deployment in production environments.