CVE-2015-5490 in Views Module
Summary
by MITRE
The _views_fetch_data method in includes/cache.inc in the Views module 7.x-3.5 through 7.x-3.10 for Drupal does not rebuild the full cache if the static cache is not empty, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended filters and obtain access to hidden content via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5490 resides within the Views module for Drupal, specifically in the _views_fetch_data method located in includes/cache.inc. This flaw affects versions 7.x-3.5 through 7.x-3.10 and represents a critical security issue that undermines the module's caching mechanism. The vulnerability stems from improper cache invalidation logic where the system fails to rebuild the complete cache when static cache entries exist, creating a scenario where outdated or incomplete cached data persists in memory.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through the flawed cache management approach within the Views module's data fetching process. When the static cache contains data but the full cache rebuilding process is bypassed, the system continues to serve stale content that may have been filtered or restricted based on user permissions or other access control mechanisms. This behavior creates a persistent security gap where remote attackers can exploit the inconsistency between the static cache and the actual data state, potentially accessing content that should be hidden or restricted.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to bypass intended access controls and filters that are typically enforced through the Views module's caching system. The security implications are significant as it allows unauthorized access to sensitive information that should be protected by various filtering mechanisms including user role restrictions, content access controls, and permission-based visibility settings. The vulnerability operates at the data retrieval level, meaning that even if proper access controls are configured at the application level, the flawed caching mechanism can still expose restricted content.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper output filtering, and represents a classic case of cache-based information disclosure. Attackers can leverage this weakness through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulating cache states or exploiting timing conditions that cause the system to return cached data rather than fresh data. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under privilege escalation and information disclosure techniques, specifically targeting the credential access and defense evasion domains where attackers can maintain persistent access through cached data manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5490 focus primarily on immediate patching of the affected Views module to versions beyond 7.x-3.10 where the caching logic has been corrected. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of cache invalidation processes and ensure that proper cache warming procedures are in place. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing additional access control layers and regularly audit cache configurations to prevent similar issues. The fix typically involves ensuring that when static cache entries exist, the system properly validates and rebuilds the full cache to maintain data consistency and prevent stale information from being served to unauthorized users.