CVE-2026-118571 in Media Alias Display Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2026
Use of Web Browser Cache Containing Sensitive Information vulnerability in Drupal Media Alias Display allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels. This issue affects Media Alias Display versions: from 0.0.0 to 2.1.3, from 3.0.0 to 3.0.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2026
The vulnerability identified in the Drupal module Media Alias Display represents a critical intersection of web caching mechanisms and access control enforcement failures. This issue specifically affects versions ranging from 0.0.0 through 2.1.3, as well as version ranges starting at 3.0.0 up to 3.0.3. The core technical flaw lies in the improper handling of HTTP cache headers by the web server or intermediate caching proxies when serving content generated via this module. When a user with appropriate administrative privileges accesses a protected media alias, the response containing sensitive information is cached without proper directives indicating that the content must not be stored for subsequent users. This misconfiguration allows the browser or proxy to store the private data in its local cache storage mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this flaw enables unauthorized access to restricted resources through simple client-side manipulation rather than complex server-side exploitation techniques. An attacker with limited privileges can exploit this by inspecting their own browser history, using developer tools to view cached responses, or employing scripts that query the browser's cache API. Since the sensitive information is stored in plaintext within the local storage of any device where an authenticated user previously viewed it, the confidentiality of the data is compromised regardless of server-side permissions being correctly configured for subsequent requests. This scenario highlights a significant gap in how dynamic content with varying access levels is managed by caching layers, leading to unintended data exposure.
This vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-524, which categorizes issues related to the use of cache containing sensitive information, and falls under the broader category of CWE-359 regarding Exposure of Private Information to an Unauthorized Actor. In terms of adversarial tactics as defined by the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this behavior facilitates reconnaissance and data exfiltration through local system discovery techniques. Attackers can leverage browser developer tools or cache inspection scripts to retrieve previously loaded resources that were not properly secured against caching. The impact is particularly severe in environments where multiple users share a single device or workstation, as one user's session leakage directly compromises the privacy of others who access the same machine later.
Mitigation strategies must focus on ensuring strict control over HTTP response headers for any content served through Media Alias Display that involves sensitive data. Administrators should configure web servers to include Cache-Control directives such as no-store, no-cache, and private in responses containing protected media aliases. This instructs browsers and proxies not to store these resources in persistent cache storage accessible by other users or scripts. Additionally, implementing proper access control checks at the server level before any content is served ensures that even if caching occurs inadvertently, unauthorized requests are denied before data transmission. Updating to a patched version of the Media Alias Display module where this logic has been corrected is the primary remediation step for affected installations.