CVE-2026-114539 in DocCheck Basic Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2026
Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerability in Drupal DocCheck Basic allows Authentication Bypass. This issue affects DocCheck Basic versions: 7.x.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2026
The identified security flaw represents a critical authentication bypass mechanism within the DocCheck Basic module for Drupal, specifically affecting version 7.x of the software suite. This vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-287, which describes Improper Authentication, and more specifically aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078, Valid Accounts, as it allows an attacker to gain access using valid credentials or by circumventing the authentication process entirely through an alternative pathway. The core issue stems from a logical error in how the module handles user verification processes during specific administrative or content management operations. Instead of strictly enforcing the standard login sequence and session validation checks for all entry points, the application fails to verify the authenticity of the user context when accessing certain alternate paths within the Drupal architecture. This oversight creates a gap where an unauthenticated actor can interact with protected resources by exploiting these less scrutinized code branches that do not trigger the full suite of security controls designed to prevent unauthorized access.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability likely arises because the module implements custom authentication logic or API endpoints that operate independently from Drupal’s core session management system. When an attacker identifies such an alternate channel, they can bypass the initial login screen and directly manipulate state-changing actions or view sensitive data without providing valid credentials. This type of flaw is particularly dangerous in content management systems like Drupal because it often grants access to administrative functions, user profile modifications, or confidential document storage depending on the specific configuration of DocCheck Basic. The absence of consistent security checks across all entry points means that even if the main interface is hardened against brute force attacks and credential stuffing, these secondary pathways remain wide open for exploitation by automated tools or manual attackers seeking quick access to privileged areas of the site.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it directly compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data hosted on vulnerable Drupal instances. An attacker who successfully exploits this authentication bypass can assume the identity of an administrator or a trusted user without detection by standard security monitoring tools that rely on login failure metrics. This enables unauthorized modification of website content, theft of sensitive documents managed by DocCheck Basic, and potential further compromise of the underlying server if combined with other vulnerabilities such as remote code execution flaws often present in outdated Drupal 7 installations. Furthermore, because the access is granted through an alternate path rather than a failed login attempt, traditional intrusion detection systems may not flag the activity as malicious immediately, allowing prolonged unauthorized presence within the system environment.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate remediation of the vulnerable code and broader security hardening measures for Drupal 7 environments. The primary recommendation is to update DocCheck Basic to the latest patched version released by the vendor, which should include fixes that enforce consistent authentication checks across all module endpoints. If updating is not immediately feasible due to compatibility constraints with legacy systems, administrators should implement web application firewall rules to block requests targeting known vulnerable paths associated with this alternate channel. Additionally, enabling two-factor authentication for all administrative accounts adds a layer of defense-in-depth that can mitigate the risk even if an attacker bypasses the initial password check. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on alternative entry points are essential to ensure no other similar logical flaws exist within the application logic before deploying any changes to production environments.