CVE-2015-5499 in Navigate Module
Summary
by MITRE
The Navigate module for Drupal does not properly check permissions, which allows remote authenticated users to modify custom widgets and create widget database records by leveraging the "navigate view" permission.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5499 resides within the Navigate module for the Drupal content management system, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of the platform. This issue stems from insufficient permission validation within the module's implementation, specifically failing to properly verify user privileges before allowing modifications to custom widgets and database records. The vulnerability affects versions of Drupal that utilize the Navigate module, creating a scenario where authenticated users can escalate their privileges beyond what is intended by the system administrators.
The technical flaw manifests through a permission bypass mechanism where users possessing the "navigate view" permission can exploit the module's inadequate access controls to perform unauthorized modifications. This vulnerability operates at the application level within Drupal's permission system, specifically targeting the module's handling of widget creation and modification functions. The flaw does not require special privileges beyond what is already granted to authenticated users, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by any user who has logged into the system with valid credentials. The Navigate module's failure to implement proper access control checks means that legitimate users can manipulate the database records associated with custom widgets, potentially leading to data corruption or unauthorized modifications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to manipulate the content management system's user interface elements and potentially compromise the integrity of the entire platform. Remote authenticated users can leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious code through widget modifications, alter existing widget configurations, or create new database records that could be used for further exploitation. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege, allowing users to perform actions that should be restricted to administrators or specific roles within the system. The ability to create widget database records opens additional attack vectors where malicious users could establish persistent backdoors or manipulate the user experience in harmful ways.
Organizations running Drupal systems with the Navigate module are strongly advised to implement immediate mitigations including applying the official security patches released by Drupal, disabling the Navigate module if it is not essential to operations, or implementing additional access controls through custom code. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be leveraged to establish persistent access within the system. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect unusual widget creation patterns or unauthorized database modifications that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of Drupal modules and their configurations are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining undetected in production environments.