CVE-2015-7880 in Entity Event Registration Module
Summary
by MITRE
The Entity Registration module 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.5 for Drupal allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive event registration information by leveraging the "Register other accounts" permission and knowledge of usernames.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2019
The Entity Registration module for Drupal represents a critical access control vulnerability that emerged in version 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.5. This vulnerability specifically targets the module's handling of user permissions and data exposure mechanisms, creating a scenario where unauthorized actors can exploit legitimate administrative capabilities to access sensitive information. The flaw resides in the module's failure to properly validate user permissions when processing registration requests for other accounts, effectively allowing attackers to bypass intended security boundaries that should protect event registration data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization checks within the module's codebase. When administrators possess the "Register other accounts" permission, the module incorrectly assumes that this privilege extends to full visibility of all registration details associated with those accounts. Attackers can leverage this by identifying valid usernames through various means and then using the module's registration functionality to access information that should remain restricted. This represents a classic privilege escalation scenario where a seemingly legitimate administrative function becomes a vector for information disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including credential harvesting, social engineering campaigns, and comprehensive enumeration of event participants. Security researchers have identified this issue as aligning with CWE-284 Access Control Flaws, specifically addressing improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to access protected resources. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1213 Data from Information Repositories, as it enables adversaries to extract sensitive data from organizational information systems through legitimate administrative interfaces.
Organizations running affected Drupal installations face significant risk of unauthorized access to event registration databases, potentially exposing personal information of participants, registration patterns, and other sensitive metadata. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where event registration data contains personally identifiable information or other sensitive details. Security teams should implement immediate mitigations including updating to version 7.x-1.5 or later, reviewing and restricting the "Register other accounts" permission to only trusted administrators, and implementing additional monitoring for unusual registration activities. The module's configuration should be audited to ensure that administrative permissions are properly segmented and that access controls are appropriately enforced to prevent similar issues in other components of the Drupal ecosystem.