CVE-2026-114543 in Simple User Management
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2026
Incorrect Authorization vulnerability in Drupal Simple User Management allows Forceful Browsing. This issue affects Simple User Management versions: from 0.0.0 to 1.11.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2026
The identified security flaw resides within the Drupal Simple User Management module, specifically affecting version ranges from 0.0.0 through 1.11.0. This vulnerability is classified as an incorrect authorization issue that enables forceful browsing capabilities for attackers. In web application architecture, proper access control mechanisms are essential to ensure that users can only interact with resources and perform actions authorized by their assigned roles or permissions. When these controls fail, it creates a pathway for unauthorized entities to traverse the application interface in ways not intended by the system designers.
Forceful browsing, also known as insecure direct object references when applied to specific data objects, occurs when an application exposes internal implementation details such as file names, database keys, or user identifiers without adequate verification of the requester's privileges. In this context, a malicious actor can manipulate URL parameters or request headers to access administrative functions, view sensitive user profiles, modify account settings, or execute other privileged operations that should be restricted to authenticated administrators or specific role-based users. The absence of robust server-side validation means that simply knowing the structure of valid requests allows an attacker to bypass authentication checks entirely if they are already logged in with a lower-privilege account, or potentially access public endpoints that were meant to be protected by session state verification.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-284 Improper Access Control and CWE-639 Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key if the forceful browsing involves accessing specific user records via predictable identifiers. It also maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as it often leverages existing credentials but exploits weak authorization logic rather than credential theft. The operational impact of this flaw is significant because it undermines the integrity and confidentiality of user data managed by Drupal sites using this module. Attackers can escalate privileges within the application context, leading to potential full site compromise if combined with other vulnerabilities such as cross-site scripting or SQL injection that might be present in exposed administrative interfaces.
The consequences extend beyond mere information disclosure. If attackers gain access to sensitive personal information stored in user profiles due to improper authorization checks, it violates data privacy regulations and trust expectations of the website's audience. Furthermore, if the module allows modification of user roles or permissions through these forceful browsing vectors, an attacker could promote a low-privilege account to administrator status, thereby gaining complete control over the Drupal installation. This includes the ability to install malicious modules, alter site configuration, deface content, or exfiltrate database contents depending on the underlying server environment's access levels.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate remediation through software updates. Site administrators should upgrade the Simple User Management module to a version newer than 1.11.0 where this authorization flaw has been addressed by the developers. If upgrading is not immediately feasible, temporary mitigations include implementing strict web application firewall rules that monitor for anomalous request patterns indicative of forceful browsing attempts, such as sequential enumeration of user IDs or access to administrative paths from non-administrator sessions. Additionally, reviewing and hardening custom code within any integrations with this module can help enforce explicit permission checks before rendering content or processing requests. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on authorization logic are recommended to identify similar weaknesses in other parts of the Drupal ecosystem that may rely on the same flawed assumptions about user privilege enforcement.