CVE-2015-6661 in Drupal
Summary
by MITRE
Drupal 6.x before 6.37 and 7.x before 7.39 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive node titles by reading the menu.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2022
This vulnerability affects Drupal content management systems running version 6.x before 6.37 and 7.x before 7.39, where remote attackers can extract sensitive node titles through menu traversal techniques. The flaw resides in the way Drupal handles menu item access controls and node title exposure within menu structures. When users access menu paths that reference nodes, the system inadvertently reveals node titles even when those nodes are not accessible to the requesting user. This occurs because the menu system does not properly enforce access restrictions that should prevent unauthorized users from viewing node titles in menu contexts. The vulnerability represents a classic information disclosure issue that can be exploited through careful manipulation of menu paths and node references.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access control validation within Drupal's menu system. When menu items are generated dynamically based on node content, the system fails to properly check user permissions before exposing node metadata such as titles. This allows attackers to construct specific menu paths that bypass normal access controls and retrieve node titles from restricted content. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates at the menu system level rather than the node access level, making it harder to detect and remediate. According to CWE-200, this represents a weakness in information exposure where sensitive data is revealed to unauthorized actors through indirect means.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as node titles often contain sensitive information that could aid in further attacks. Attackers can systematically enumerate node titles across different content types and access levels, potentially uncovering confidential information about content structure, user activities, or business-sensitive data. This information can be leveraged for social engineering attacks, targeted phishing campaigns, or as part of broader reconnaissance efforts to map the content structure of the website. The vulnerability also enables attackers to identify potentially vulnerable content types or access patterns that might be exploited in combination with other weaknesses. From an ATT&CK perspective, this maps to T1213 (Data from Information Repositories) and T1592 (Asset Discovery) techniques.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Drupal 6.37 or 7.39 versions where this vulnerability has been patched. The fix involves implementing proper access control checks within the menu system to ensure that node titles are only exposed when users have appropriate permissions to access the underlying content. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious menu traversal patterns, conducting regular security audits of menu configurations, and establishing proper access control policies for content management. Security teams should also monitor for unusual menu access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability can be systematically exploited without requiring authentication. The patch addresses the core issue by ensuring that menu item generation properly respects node access controls and prevents unauthorized disclosure of node metadata through menu structures.