CVE-2015-4353 in Custom Sitemap Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Custom Sitemap module for Drupal allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that delete sitemaps via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2019
The CVE-2015-4353 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Custom Sitemap module for Drupal platforms, exposing organizations to significant administrative compromise risks. This vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanisms of Drupal sites utilizing the Custom Sitemap module, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit administrative privileges without legitimate credentials. The flaw manifests when attackers can manipulate administrative actions through crafted requests that leverage the existing authentication session of authorized users.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation within the module's administrative interfaces. When administrators navigate to specific administrative pages related to sitemap management, the module fails to properly verify that requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions rather than maliciously crafted external requests. This weakness allows attackers to construct specially formatted requests that, when executed by an authenticated administrator, perform unauthorized actions such as deleting sitemaps. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description indicate that multiple attack scenarios could potentially exploit this flaw, including phishing campaigns, compromised user sessions, or direct exploitation through malicious web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of administrative controls within Drupal installations. Successful exploitation enables attackers to delete critical sitemap files, potentially disrupting website navigation structures, affecting search engine optimization efforts, and creating opportunities for further attacks through the removal of important site configuration data. Additionally, this vulnerability could serve as a stepping stone for more extensive attacks, as administrators often have elevated privileges that could be leveraged to access other sensitive system components or data. The implications are particularly severe for organizations relying heavily on Drupal's SEO and site management features, where sitemap integrity directly impacts user experience and search visibility.
Organizations affected by CVE-2015-4353 should prioritize immediate remediation through official Drupal security updates or module patches provided by the Drupal community. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1566 related to spearphishing attacks that could exploit such vulnerabilities. Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper anti-CSRF token validation mechanisms, ensuring all administrative actions require confirmation through multi-factor authentication where possible, and conducting thorough security audits of all third-party modules. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous administrative activity patterns, and regular security assessments should verify that all Drupal installations maintain current security patches to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.