CVE-2015-3355 in Batch Jobs Module
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the Batch Jobs module before 7.x-1.2 for Drupal allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of certain users for requests that (1) delete a batch job record or (2) execute a task via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2019
The CVE-2015-3355 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Batch Jobs module of Drupal versions prior to 7.x-1.2. This vulnerability exposes web applications to unauthorized actions that can be executed by malicious actors without user consent, fundamentally compromising the security integrity of the affected systems. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanisms within the batch job processing functionality, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate system operations through crafted requests that appear legitimate to the server.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms within the batch job module's administrative interfaces. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web pages or emails that, when visited or clicked by authenticated users, automatically submit requests to the vulnerable Drupal instance. These requests can either delete batch job records or execute specific tasks, both of which can result in significant operational disruption and potential data loss. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the vulnerability description indicate that the flaw exists across multiple attack surfaces within the batch job processing system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various methods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to include potential system compromise and service disruption. When an attacker successfully hijacks authentication to delete batch job records, they can disrupt scheduled maintenance operations, remove critical processing tasks, or create system inconsistencies that may require manual intervention. The ability to execute tasks through CSRF attacks opens additional attack vectors where malicious actors could potentially trigger harmful operations such as data exports, system reconfigurations, or even privilege escalation attempts. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on automated batch processing for critical business operations, as it can lead to unauthorized system modifications that may go unnoticed for extended periods.
Organizations affected by CVE-2015-3355 should immediately implement the available security patches provided by the Drupal project, upgrading to version 7.x-1.2 or later of the Batch Jobs module. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive testing of the updated module to ensure compatibility with existing batch processing workflows and system configurations. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of their batch job processing systems to identify any potential exploitation attempts that may have occurred prior to patching. Additionally, implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, strict access controls on batch job interfaces, and monitoring for unusual batch job activities can provide defense-in-depth measures. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 related to data from information repositories, as it enables unauthorized access to system data through manipulation of batch processing operations. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional protection against similar CSRF vulnerabilities in other components of their Drupal installations.