CVE-2015-7226 in Administration Views Module
Summary
by MITRE
The Administration Views module 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.5 for Drupal checks access permissions based on the router path from the view instead of the display property, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via vectors related to the access handler.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7226 affects the Administration Views module version 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.5 within the Drupal content management system. This flaw represents a critical access control bypass issue that stems from improper permission validation mechanisms within the module's implementation. The vulnerability specifically targets how the system evaluates access permissions for administrative views, creating a scenario where attackers can potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functionalities.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the module's incorrect handling of access permission checks. Instead of properly validating access based on the display property associated with each view, the system incorrectly relies on the router path from the view configuration itself. This fundamental flaw in the access control implementation creates a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system's permission model. The vulnerability manifests when the module processes view requests and fails to properly verify whether the requesting user has adequate permissions for the specific display being accessed, rather than checking permissions against the actual route or path that should be accessible.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes Drupal sites running affected versions to significant security risks. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to access administrative interfaces, view sensitive data, and potentially escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the permission validation layer, meaning that even if users lack proper access rights, they may still be able to navigate to restricted areas of the administration interface. This creates a scenario where attackers can gather intelligence about the system's structure, access restricted content, and potentially perform unauthorized administrative actions that should be limited to privileged users only.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting remote services for privilege escalation. Organizations running affected Drupal installations face potential data breaches, unauthorized system modifications, and complete compromise of administrative controls. The flaw essentially allows attackers to bypass the normal access control mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized users from accessing administrative functions, making it a critical concern for any organization relying on Drupal for content management.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the Administration Views module to version 7.x-1.5 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to correct the access permission validation logic. Organizations should also implement network-level controls such as firewall rules that restrict access to administrative interfaces, deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious requests, and conduct thorough security audits of all Drupal modules to identify similar permission validation issues. Additionally, implementing proper monitoring and logging of administrative access attempts can help detect exploitation attempts and provide forensic evidence for incident response activities. System administrators should also review and validate all access control configurations to ensure that proper user permissions are enforced across all administrative interfaces and that no unauthorized access paths remain available to users.