CVE-2025-7717 in File Download
Summary
by MITRE • 07/21/2025
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Drupal File Download allows Forceful Browsing.This issue affects File Download: from 0.0.0 before 1.9.0, from 2.0.0 before 2.0.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-7717 represents a critical authorization flaw within the Drupal File Download module that enables attackers to bypass intended access controls through forceful browsing techniques. This issue specifically impacts versions of the module prior to 1.9.0 in the 0.x release line and before 2.0.1 in the 2.0.x release line, creating a persistent security gap that could allow unauthorized users to access protected files and resources. The vulnerability manifests when the module fails to properly validate user permissions before serving file download requests, effectively removing the authorization checks that should prevent unauthorized access to sensitive content.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-863, which describes improper authorization conditions where a system fails to properly verify that an entity has adequate access rights to perform a requested operation. In this case, the Drupal File Download module does not adequately enforce access control policies during file retrieval operations, allowing malicious actors to construct direct requests to download files that should otherwise be restricted based on user roles or permissions. The forceful browsing aspect indicates that attackers can exploit this weakness by directly accessing file URLs without proper authentication or authorization, bypassing the normal user interface and session management controls that typically protect such resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, potentially exposing sensitive data including user uploads, system configuration files, and other confidential information that should remain protected within the Drupal environment. Attackers could leverage this weakness to obtain personal information, system credentials, application source code, or other valuable assets depending on the configuration and content managed by the vulnerable Drupal installation. The scope of damage increases significantly if the affected system hosts user-generated content or sensitive business data, as the vulnerability could allow for comprehensive data exfiltration without proper authorization. This type of vulnerability also creates opportunities for further exploitation, as access to system files might reveal information that could be used for additional attacks within the network.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading the Drupal File Download module to versions 1.9.0 or 2.0.1, which contain the necessary authorization checks to prevent forceful browsing attacks. Organizations should also review their existing access control policies and ensure that proper authentication mechanisms are in place to prevent unauthorized access to file resources. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as attackers could potentially use this weakness to escalate privileges and gain access to additional system resources. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and access control measures, including web application firewalls and proper logging of file access attempts, can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar authorization flaws in other components of the Drupal ecosystem and ensure comprehensive protection against unauthorized access attempts.