CVE-2015-3379 in Views Module
Summary
by MITRE
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 does not properly restrict access to the default views configurations, which allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2018
The CVE-2015-3379 vulnerability affects the Views module in Drupal versions prior to specific patch releases, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of Drupal-based web applications. This vulnerability specifically targets the default views configurations within the Views module, which is one of the most widely used modules in the Drupal ecosystem for creating custom content displays and data presentations. The flaw exists in multiple version branches including 6.x before 2.18, 6.x-3.x before 3.2, and 7.x-3.x before 3.10, indicating a widespread issue that affected numerous Drupal installations across different major versions. The vulnerability stems from improper access restrictions that fail to adequately validate user permissions when accessing default view configurations, creating a pathway for unauthorized information disclosure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient authorization checks implemented within the Views module's configuration handling mechanisms. When users interact with default views configurations, the system should enforce proper access controls to ensure that only authorized users can view or manipulate sensitive view settings. However, the flawed implementation allows authenticated users to bypass these controls through unspecified vectors, potentially enabling them to access view configurations that contain sensitive data or reveal system information. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-284, which specifically addresses inadequate access control mechanisms, and represents a classic example of privilege escalation through improper authorization checks. The unspecified vectors suggest that attackers could exploit various pathways within the module's architecture to achieve unauthorized access, making the vulnerability particularly concerning as it may not be easily predictable or preventable through standard security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3379 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as default view configurations in Drupal often contain sensitive data about the site's structure, content relationships, and potentially user information. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gather intelligence about the application's internal workings, identify vulnerable components, or discover patterns in content management that could aid in subsequent attacks. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations using Drupal for content management systems where views are extensively used to display user data, administrative interfaces, or business-critical information. When combined with other vulnerabilities or attack vectors, this flaw could provide attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that might lead to more severe compromises. The remote authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system but can exploit the flaw through network-based attacks, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official Drupal security updates that address the access control issues in the Views module. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to patched versions of the Views module, specifically 6.x-2.18, 6.x-3.2, and 7.x-3.10, which contain the necessary fixes for the authorization bypass. Security administrators should also implement additional monitoring to detect unusual access patterns related to view configurations and consider implementing network segmentation to limit potential attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in web applications and highlights the need for thorough security testing of module interactions within content management systems. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any other modules that might exhibit similar access control flaws, as this vulnerability represents a broader category of issues that can compromise the integrity of web application security frameworks. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, where attackers leverage insufficient access controls to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system components.