CVE-2015-3370 in Node Invite Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Node Invite module before 6.x-2.5 for Drupal allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of users with the "node_invite_can_manage_invite" permission for requests that re-enable node invitations via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2019
The CVE-2015-3370 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Node Invite module for Drupal platforms prior to version 6.x-2.5. This vulnerability specifically targets authenticated users who possess the "node_invite_can_manage_invite" permission, creating a significant security risk that can be exploited by remote attackers to manipulate the authentication state of legitimate users. The flaw operates through unspecified vectors that allow attackers to craft malicious requests designed to re-enable node invitations without proper user consent or awareness. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-352 category, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities, making it a well-documented and recognized threat pattern in web application security. From an operational perspective, this CSRF vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions within Drupal sites that utilize the Node Invite module, particularly those with users who have elevated privileges. The attack vector typically involves tricking authenticated users into visiting malicious web pages or clicking on compromised links that automatically submit requests to the vulnerable Drupal site, thereby leveraging the user's existing authenticated session to perform unauthorized actions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the lack of proper CSRF protection mechanisms within the Node Invite module's invitation re-enable functionality. When users with the designated permission attempt to re-enable node invitations, the system fails to validate the authenticity of the request origin, relying instead on the presence of a valid session cookie. This absence of anti-CSRF tokens or similar validation mechanisms creates an exploitable condition where attackers can craft HTTP requests that appear to originate from legitimate users within the same browser session. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to manipulate the invitation system in ways that could lead to unauthorized content access or administrative control, as the affected users already possess the necessary permissions to manage invitations. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the CVE description suggest that multiple attack scenarios could be possible, potentially including email-based attacks, compromised websites, or social engineering tactics that leverage the user's trust in legitimate web interactions.
From a threat modeling standpoint, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers Phishing and other social engineering techniques that can be used to deliver CSRF attacks. The attack chain typically begins with the delivery of a malicious payload to an authenticated user, followed by the exploitation of the CSRF vulnerability to perform unauthorized actions within the target application. The security implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to manipulate the content invitation workflow, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive content or disruption of legitimate user workflows. Organizations using Drupal sites with the Node Invite module before the patched version face significant risk, particularly those that rely on the module for content management or user invitation workflows. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture, where session-based authentication is insufficient to prevent automated request manipulation without additional CSRF protection mechanisms. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of how seemingly minor oversights in web application security can lead to significant operational risks.
The recommended mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3370 focus primarily on upgrading to the patched version of the Node Invite module, specifically version 6.x-2.5 or later, which incorporates proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including the deployment of web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns, the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to limit the sources from which requests can be made, and comprehensive security monitoring to detect anomalous behavior related to invitation management functions. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar CSRF vulnerabilities in other modules or custom code implementations. The incident also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices, as this vulnerability could have been prevented through proper input validation and the implementation of anti-CSRF token mechanisms that are standard in modern web frameworks. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication controls such as two-factor authentication for users with elevated permissions, and establishing robust incident response procedures to quickly address similar vulnerabilities when discovered. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of CSRF protection in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive user data or administrative functions, and the necessity of following security best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and other industry standards.