CVE-2026-84910 in Advanced Search
Summary
by MITRE • 10/22/2026
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Drupal Advanced Search allows Forceful Browsing. This issue affects Advanced Search versions: from 0.0.0 to 2.4.5.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2026
The identified security flaw resides within the Drupal Advanced Search module, specifically affecting version ranges from 0.0.0 through 2.4.5. This vulnerability is classified as a Missing Authorization issue, which fundamentally represents an access control failure where the application fails to properly verify whether an authenticated user has the necessary permissions to perform specific actions or access certain resources. In this context, the flaw enables Forceful Browsing, also known as path traversal via unauthorized direct object references, allowing attackers to interact with administrative functions or sensitive data endpoints that should be restricted to privileged users such as site administrators. The core technical deficiency lies in the module's request handling logic, which does not adequately enforce role-based access controls on specific API endpoints or page handlers associated with advanced search configurations and execution parameters.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability allows an attacker who possesses valid credentials for any user account, regardless of their privilege level, to manipulate HTTP requests to target internal administrative interfaces or configuration pages that are intended to be inaccessible to standard users. By directly requesting URLs corresponding to these restricted areas, the attacker bypasses the normal navigation flow and security checks typically enforced by Drupal's core access control system. This lack of server-side validation means that the application trusts client-supplied input regarding which resource is being accessed without verifying if the current session has the requisite administrative rights. Consequently, an unprivileged user can potentially view sensitive configuration settings, modify search indexing parameters, or execute administrative tasks intended only for site managers, thereby compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the web application's backend operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it undermines the principle of least privilege within the Drupal ecosystem. Attackers with low-level access can escalate their influence over the system by exploiting these unauthorized entry points to alter search behavior, potentially leading to further exploitation vectors such as cross-site scripting if malicious content can be injected through configuration changes or data manipulation via advanced search parameters. Furthermore, exposure of administrative settings may reveal internal architecture details, database structures, or third-party integrations that aid in subsequent attacks. This type of access control bypass is particularly dangerous because it does not require complex exploitation techniques; instead, it relies on the attacker's ability to identify and directly request restricted URLs, making it a persistent risk for any deployment running affected versions without immediate remediation.
To mitigate this vulnerability, site administrators must immediately upgrade the Drupal Advanced Search module to version 2.4.6 or later, where these access control checks have been properly implemented and validated against user roles. Until an update is applied, temporary mitigations include restricting direct URL access through web server configuration rules if possible, although upgrading remains the only definitive solution as it addresses the root cause within the application codebase. Security teams should also audit existing deployments for any signs of unauthorized administrative activity or unusual search query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This issue aligns with CWE-284 Improper Access Control and is commonly associated with ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, where adversaries leverage legitimate credentials to access resources they are not authorized to use, highlighting the critical importance of rigorous authorization checks in all web application modules.