CVE-2015-5502 in Storage API Module
Summary
by MITRE
The Storage API module 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.8 for Drupal does not properly restrict access to Storage API fields attached to entities that are not nodes, which allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5502 affects the Storage API module version 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.8 in the Drupal content management system. This issue represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security model of Drupal's entity system, particularly when dealing with non-node entities that utilize Storage API fields. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that fail to properly restrict access to field data associated with various entity types beyond the standard node entities.
The technical flaw manifests in the module's improper handling of access checks for Storage API fields when these fields are attached to entities that are not nodes. In Drupal's architecture, entities represent various data objects such as users, taxonomy terms, or custom content types, each potentially containing fields that store specific data. The Storage API module provides functionality for managing these field attachments, but the vulnerability occurs when the access control mechanisms fail to properly validate permissions for non-node entities. This misconfiguration allows unauthorized access to sensitive field data that should be restricted based on user roles and permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can potentially enable attackers to extract confidential information from various entity types within the Drupal system. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description suggests that the vulnerability could lead to multiple attack vectors including data theft, privilege escalation, or even system compromise depending on the nature of the attached fields and the specific entity types involved. Attackers could exploit this weakness to access field data from users, taxonomy terms, or other custom entities that have Storage API fields attached, potentially exposing sensitive information such as personal details, administrative credentials, or system configuration data.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and demonstrates how inadequate permission checking can create security gaps in content management systems. The flaw also relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, as unauthorized access to entity fields could potentially lead to broader system compromise. Organizations running affected Drupal installations face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive information, particularly in environments where the Storage API module is actively used to manage field data for various entity types.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrading to Storage API module version 7.x-1.8 or later, which contains the necessary access control fixes. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough audits of their Drupal installations to identify all instances where Storage API fields are attached to non-node entities and verify that proper access controls are in place. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual access patterns to entity fields and consider implementing additional access controls through custom code or security modules that provide more granular field-level permissions. Organizations should also review their overall Drupal security posture, including user role definitions, permission assignments, and general access control configurations to ensure comprehensive protection against similar vulnerabilities.