Drupal Brute force amplification attacks via XML-RPC
Summary
CVE-2016-3163: Drupal Brute force amplification attacks via XML-RPC. Affects drupal/core across 2 version ranges.
>= 6.0, < 6.38
>= 7.0, < 7.43
Fixed in 6.38 or 7.43, depending on the release line you run. How to fix ↓
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Background
Drupal is a popular open-source content management system (CMS) used for building websites and applications. It provides a flexible framework for creating and managing digital content. The Drupal core package is the foundation of the CMS and includes essential features and functionality. However, the XML-RPC system in Drupal 6.x before 6.38 and 7.x before 7.43 has a vulnerability that can be exploited by attackers to conduct brute force amplification attacks. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to make a large number of calls to the same method, potentially leading to unauthorized access or denial of service.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the XML-RPC system of Drupal allows remote attackers to conduct brute force amplification attacks. By making a large number of calls to the same method, attackers can overwhelm the system and potentially gain unauthorized access or cause denial of service. This vulnerability affects Drupal versions 6.x before 6.38 and 7.x before 7.43. The severity of this vulnerability is rated as HIGH with a CVSS score of 7.5.
How To Fix
Fixed versions by release line
The minimum fixed version depends on the release line you run.
-
>= 6.0, < 6.386.38composer require drupal/core:6.38 -
>= 7.0, < 7.437.43composer require drupal/core:7.43
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Workaround
There is no specific workaround provided for this vulnerability. The recommended solution is to update Drupal to the patched versions mentioned above.
Conclusion
The XML-RPC vulnerability in Drupal can be exploited by attackers to conduct brute force amplification attacks, potentially leading to unauthorized access or denial of service. It is important to update Drupal to the patched versions (6.38 or 7.43) to mitigate the risk. Regularly updating Drupal and applying security patches is crucial to ensure the system is protected against known vulnerabilities. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
Drupal is an open-source content management system (CMS) used for building websites and applications. It provides a flexible framework for creating and managing digital content.
XML-RPC is a remote procedure call (RPC) protocol encoded in XML. It allows software running on different operating systems and architectures to communicate with each other.
A brute force amplification attack is a type of attack where an attacker makes a large number of requests to a target system, amplifying the impact of the attack. In the case of this vulnerability, the attacker can use the XML-RPC system in Drupal to make a large number of calls to the same method, potentially overwhelming the system and causing unauthorized access or denial of service.
This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in Drupal or cause denial of service by overwhelming the system with a large number of requests. It is important to patch the vulnerability to prevent these potential consequences.
To protect your Drupal installation, it is crucial to update to the patched versions (6.38 or 7.43) that address this vulnerability. Additionally, regularly updating Drupal and applying security patches is essential to stay protected against known vulnerabilities.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for drupal/core.
