CVE-2022-25271 in Drupal
Summary
by MITRE • 02/17/2022
Drupal core's form API has a vulnerability where certain contributed or custom modules' forms may be vulnerable to improper input validation. This could allow an attacker to inject disallowed values or overwrite data. Affected forms are uncommon, but in certain cases an attacker could alter critical or sensitive data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25271 resides within Drupal core's form API implementation, representing a critical weakness in the platform's input validation mechanisms. This flaw specifically affects how the system handles form submissions from contributed or custom modules, creating potential entry points for malicious actors to manipulate data flow. The vulnerability operates at the application logic level where form processing fails to adequately validate user inputs against expected data types and constraints, allowing for improper value injection that can compromise data integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization and validation checks within Drupal's form processing pipeline. When modules utilize the form API to collect and process user input, the system should enforce strict validation rules to prevent unauthorized data modification. However, in affected scenarios, the validation process becomes bypassed or weakened, enabling attackers to submit values that should be restricted or disallowed. This weakness aligns with CWE-20, which categorizes improper input validation as a fundamental security flaw that can lead to various attack vectors including data manipulation and unauthorized access. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it can potentially allow attackers to overwrite critical or sensitive data within the system.
The operational implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple data corruption, as it can enable attackers to perform unauthorized modifications to sensitive system information. While the affected forms are described as uncommon, this does not diminish the severity since the potential for data manipulation exists in any module that relies on the vulnerable form API. The attack surface becomes particularly dangerous when considering that Drupal installations often contain numerous contributed modules, each potentially introducing different levels of risk. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could alter user data, configuration settings, or administrative information, depending on the specific module and form involved. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the integrity component of the CIA triad and can be leveraged as part of broader attack strategies within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly under the data manipulation and privilege escalation categories.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-25271 require immediate attention from Drupal administrators and security teams. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to the latest patched versions of Drupal core where the form API validation has been strengthened and properly implemented. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all modules that may be utilizing the vulnerable form processing pathways and ensure comprehensive testing before applying updates. Additionally, implementing additional input validation layers at the application level, monitoring form submission patterns for anomalous behavior, and maintaining detailed audit logs of data modifications can provide defensive measures against exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level controls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in existing functionality while maintaining the enhanced security posture necessary to protect against this and similar vulnerabilities.