CVE-2015-8232 in Profile Module
Summary
by MITRE
The UC Profile module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.3 for Drupal does not properly check access to profiles in certain circumstances, which might allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from the anonymous user profile via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8232 affects the UC Profile module version 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.3 within the Drupal content management system. This security flaw represents a critical access control bypass issue that undermines the fundamental security assumptions of user profile management within the affected platform. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify user permissions when accessing profile information, creating a pathway for unauthorized data exposure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the module's insufficient input validation and access control checks during profile retrieval operations. When users attempt to access profile information through unspecified vectors, the module fails to properly authenticate and authorize these requests, allowing remote attackers to bypass normal access restrictions. This flaw specifically impacts the anonymous user profile, which typically contains minimal information but may still include sensitive metadata or configuration details that should remain protected. The vulnerability operates at the application logic level, where the module's permission checking mechanisms are either absent, incomplete, or incorrectly implemented, creating a direct attack surface for information disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the security model of Drupal sites utilizing the affected module. Attackers can potentially harvest sensitive information about users, including profile field configurations, user registration patterns, and system metadata that could aid in subsequent attacks. This information disclosure vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and represents a classic example of insufficient authorization checks that enable unauthorized access to protected resources. The impact is particularly concerning for sites that rely heavily on user profile data for business operations or that may have additional modules that interact with profile information.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of the official security patch released in version 6.x-1.3 of the UC Profile module. The mitigation strategy must include comprehensive testing of the updated module to ensure no regression in functionality while verifying that access controls are properly enforced. Security teams should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider conducting thorough audits of user profile configurations to identify any unauthorized access that may have occurred. Additionally, this vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining updated security practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege when implementing user profile systems, as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and credential access categories. The incident underscores the necessity for regular security assessments and the implementation of proper access control mechanisms that align with industry best practices for protecting sensitive user information in web applications.