CVE-2017-6379 in Drupal
Summary
by MITRE
Some administrative paths in Drupal 8.2.x before 8.2.7 did not include protection for CSRF. This would allow an attacker to disable some blocks on a site. This issue is mitigated by the fact that users would have to know the block ID.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6379 represents a significant security weakness in Drupal 8.2.x versions prior to 8.2.7, specifically affecting administrative functionality through cross-site request forgery attacks. This flaw resides in the core content management system's administrative interface design, where certain paths lacked proper CSRF protection mechanisms that are fundamental to preventing unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability operates within the broader context of web application security where session management and request validation are critical components for maintaining system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from Drupal's insufficient validation of administrative requests originating from external sources. When administrators perform actions such as disabling blocks through the administrative interface, the system should verify that the request originates from a legitimate authenticated session rather than being crafted by an attacker. The absence of proper CSRF tokens in specific administrative paths creates an exploitable condition where malicious actors can craft specially crafted requests that appear to originate from authenticated administrators. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues in software systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it enables attackers to manipulate site configuration through block management functions. While the attack requires knowledge of specific block IDs, this information disclosure aspect represents a secondary risk that attackers can exploit through various reconnaissance techniques. The ability to disable blocks can significantly impact site functionality and user experience, potentially leading to service disruption or information exposure. Attackers could disable critical blocks such as login forms, navigation menus, or security-related components, effectively compromising the site's usability and security posture. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which addresses credential harvesting and manipulation.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2017-6379 focuses primarily on upgrading to Drupal 8.2.7 or later versions where the CSRF protection mechanisms have been properly implemented. System administrators should ensure that all Drupal installations are updated promptly to address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring administrative activities can help detect unauthorized block modifications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive security testing across all application paths, particularly administrative interfaces, and underscores the necessity of following security best practices such as implementing proper CSRF token validation for all state-changing operations. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts.