Source: cve@mitre.org
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the FAQ Ask module 5.x and 6.x before 6.x-2.0, a module for Drupal, allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users for requests that access unpublished content.
Drupal FAQ Ask module versions 5.x and 6.x prior to 6.x-2.0 are vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF). This allows attackers to hijack user sessions and potentially access unpublished content, leading to unauthorized information disclosure and potential privilege escalation. Successful exploitation requires a victim to be logged into the Drupal site and to click a malicious link or visit a compromised website.
Step 1: Victim Authentication: The victim is logged into a Drupal website using the vulnerable FAQ Ask module. Step 2: Attacker Crafting: The attacker crafts a malicious URL or HTML form that, when submitted, will trigger an action within the FAQ Ask module. Step 3: Payload Delivery: The attacker delivers the malicious URL or HTML form to the victim, typically through phishing, social engineering, or a compromised website. Step 4: Victim Interaction: The victim either clicks the malicious link or, if the attacker uses an HTML form, the form is automatically submitted (e.g., via JavaScript or a hidden iframe). Step 5: Request Execution: The victim's browser sends the crafted request to the Drupal website, including the victim's session cookies. Step 6: Vulnerability Exploitation: Because the FAQ Ask module lacks CSRF protection, the website processes the attacker's request as if it originated from the victim. Step 7: Unauthorized Action: The attacker's crafted request, now executed under the victim's authentication, performs the unauthorized action, such as accessing unpublished content.
The vulnerability stems from a lack of CSRF protection within the FAQ Ask module. Specifically, the module fails to properly validate the origin of requests when handling actions related to unpublished content. This allows an attacker to craft a malicious request, disguised as a legitimate request from the victim's browser, to perform actions on behalf of the victim. The root cause is the absence of a CSRF token or other mechanism to verify the request's authenticity, allowing attackers to bypass the intended access controls. The flaw lies within the module's handling of requests related to unpublished content, which are not properly protected against CSRF attacks. This allows an attacker to manipulate the module's functionality, potentially leading to unauthorized access and data leakage.
While no specific APTs are directly linked to this CVE, the nature of the vulnerability makes it attractive for various attackers. This type of vulnerability is often used by attackers to gain initial access or escalate privileges. Not listed on CISA KEV.
Monitor web server logs for suspicious activity, such as unexpected requests to the FAQ Ask module with unusual parameters or from unexpected sources.
Analyze HTTP request headers for missing or incorrect CSRF tokens.
Implement intrusion detection systems (IDS) with rules to identify CSRF attempts, looking for requests that lack proper origin validation or CSRF tokens.
Monitor for unauthorized access to unpublished content within the Drupal site.
Review Drupal's access logs for unusual activity, especially related to the FAQ Ask module.
Upgrade the FAQ Ask module to version 6.x-2.0 or later.
Implement CSRF protection in the FAQ Ask module by verifying a CSRF token with each request.
Use a web application firewall (WAF) to filter out malicious requests, including those attempting CSRF attacks.
Regularly update all Drupal modules and the Drupal core to the latest security patches.
Implement a strong Content Security Policy (CSP) to mitigate the impact of XSS vulnerabilities, which can be used in conjunction with CSRF attacks.