CVE-2015-4396 in Keyword Research module
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the Keyword Research module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.2 for Drupal allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of users with the "kwresearch admin site keywords" permission for requests that (1) create, (2) delete, or (3) set priorities to keywords via unspecified vectors.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2019
The CVE-2015-4396 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Keyword Research module for Drupal version 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.2. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative functionality of the module, creating a significant security risk for Drupal installations that utilize this keyword research tool. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the authentication mechanisms of users possessing the "kwresearch admin site keywords" permission, effectively allowing unauthorized manipulation of keyword data without legitimate user consent.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF protection mechanisms within the module's administrative interfaces. When users with the designated permission navigate to the keyword management functionality, the application fails to validate the authenticity of requests originating from external domains or maliciously crafted web pages. The vulnerability manifests across three distinct operations: creating new keywords, deleting existing keywords, and setting priorities for keywords, all of which can be performed without proper user authorization. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the module's request validation process, as it does not implement CSRF tokens or other protective measures that would normally prevent unauthorized request execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of keyword research data within Drupal installations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform unauthorized actions that may affect search engine optimization strategies, competitive intelligence gathering, and marketing campaign effectiveness. The ability to delete keywords can disrupt ongoing marketing efforts and remove important search terms from consideration, while creating or modifying keyword priorities can alter the strategic direction of SEO campaigns. The severity is amplified by the fact that these operations require only a single authenticated user session to be exploited, making the attack surface relatively broad and accessible.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability face significant risks including data integrity compromise, potential denial of service through keyword deletion attacks, and unauthorized modification of search strategy parameters that could impact business operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.002 - Phishing with Social Engineering and T1078.004 - Valid Accounts, as attackers can leverage existing administrative sessions to execute unauthorized commands. The exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated through various phishing or social engineering techniques, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators regularly interact with external web content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-4396 primarily involve immediate patching of the affected Keyword Research module to version 6.x-1.2 or later, which implements proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing additional network-level protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns. Regular security auditing of Drupal modules and core systems remains essential, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party components. Administrative users should be educated about the risks of clicking untrusted links and visiting unverified websites while logged into administrative sessions, as this vulnerability can be effectively exploited through social engineering attacks that trick users into visiting malicious sites containing crafted requests.