CVE-2015-3367 in Patterns Module
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the Patterns module before 7.x-2.2 for Drupal allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that (1) restore, (2) publish, or (3) unpublish a pattern via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2019
The CVE-2015-3367 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Patterns module for Drupal versions prior to 7.x-2.2. This vulnerability specifically targets administrative functions within the content management system, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on Drupal for their web presence. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate administrative workflows through forged requests that appear legitimate to the target system.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper authentication verification mechanisms within the Patterns module's administrative interfaces. When administrators perform actions such as restoring, publishing, or unpublishing patterns, the system fails to validate that these requests originate from authenticated administrative users. This omission creates a pathway for malicious actors to craft specially crafted requests that, when executed by an authenticated administrator, result in unauthorized actions within the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it directly compromises the integrity of administrative workflows. Attackers can exploit this flaw to modify content patterns without proper authorization, potentially leading to unauthorized content publication, removal of critical patterns, or restoration of malicious content. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability may be exploitable through various attack surfaces including email links, malicious websites, or compromised third-party integrations that could trigger administrative actions.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The flaw demonstrates a failure in implementing proper request validation and authentication checks, which are fundamental requirements for secure web application development. The attack pattern also corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and persistence categories, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to maintain control over administrative functions.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the patch released by Drupal for the Patterns module version 7.x-2.2 and later. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive security auditing of all installed modules to identify similar CSRF vulnerabilities, implementation of proper CSRF token validation across all administrative interfaces, and regular security assessments to ensure that authentication mechanisms remain robust. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious administrative activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies. Organizations should establish automated patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates, particularly for critical modules like Patterns that handle administrative functions. Security awareness training for administrators should emphasize the risks associated with clicking untrusted links or visiting compromised websites, as these actions may trigger CSRF attacks. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of implementing web application firewalls and additional authentication layers to provide protection against sophisticated attack vectors that may bypass traditional security controls.