CVE-2015-3378 in Views Module
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in the Views module before 6.x-2.18, 6.x-3.x before 6.x-3.2, and 7.x-3.x before 7.x-3.10 for Drupal, when the Views UI submodule is enabled, allows remote authenticated users to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via vectors related to the break lock page for edited views.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2022
The CVE-2015-3378 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw within the Drupal Views module that specifically affects versions prior to the mentioned patches. This vulnerability exists within the Views UI submodule and creates a dangerous pathway for malicious actors to exploit user trust and manipulate web traffic. The flaw manifests when users access the break lock page for edited views, which is a legitimate administrative function designed to handle concurrent editing conflicts. However, the vulnerability allows authenticated users to manipulate the redirect parameters, enabling them to redirect victims to arbitrary websites of their choosing. This creates a perfect environment for phishing attacks and social engineering campaigns where attackers can craft convincing fake login pages or malicious sites that appear legitimate to unsuspecting users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the Views module's redirect handling mechanism. When the break lock page is accessed, the system should validate that any redirect destinations are within the legitimate application boundaries. However, the flaw allows attackers to inject malicious URLs into the redirect parameter without proper validation, effectively bypassing the application's security controls. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-601 category of URL Redirector Abuse, where applications fail to properly validate redirect targets, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes social engineering through phishing attacks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal privileges - only authenticated users need to exploit it, making it accessible to anyone with valid Drupal user credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3378 extends beyond simple redirection attacks, as it enables sophisticated phishing campaigns that can compromise entire user bases. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to redirect users to carefully crafted malicious sites that mimic legitimate Drupal administrative interfaces or popular services, tricking users into entering sensitive credentials or downloading malware. The vulnerability affects multiple Drupal versions including 6.x and 7.x branches, making it particularly widespread across organizations that maintain legacy systems. The fact that this vulnerability exists in the Views UI submodule means that any organization using Drupal with this module enabled is at risk, especially those with multiple administrators or users who frequently edit views. The consequences can include credential theft, data breaches, system compromise, and reputational damage, as users may unknowingly interact with malicious sites believing they are working within the legitimate application environment.
Organizations affected by CVE-2015-3378 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant security patches released by the Drupal project, which address the input validation issues in the Views module. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as network-level filtering to restrict access to administrative functions and monitoring for suspicious redirect patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, where all user inputs should be carefully validated regardless of their source. Additionally, organizations should conduct security awareness training for users to recognize phishing attempts and suspicious redirects, as the human factor remains a critical component in defending against such attacks. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patches do not introduce regressions in legitimate functionality while maintaining the security improvements. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other modules and ensure that the overall Drupal installation maintains robust security posture against evolving threats.