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CVE-2024-55636: Critical Vulnerability in Drupal Core

A critical deserialization vulnerability in Drupal Core affects multiple versions, allowing potential object injection. Organizations must prioritize patching to mitigate risks.

CRITICALCVSS 9.8 · Published December 10, 2024

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CVE-2024-55636 is a critical vulnerability identified in the Drupal Core, specifically affecting versions from 8.0.0 before 10.2.11, from 10.3.0 before 10.3.9, and from 11.0.0 before 11.0.8. This vulnerability allows for the deserialization of untrusted data, which can lead to object injection. The root cause lies in a chain of methods within the Drupal Core that is exploitable when insecure deserialization occurs.

The severity of this vulnerability is rated as critical, with a CVSS score of 9.8, indicating a significant risk to organizations using affected versions of Drupal. The potential impact includes high confidentiality, integrity, and availability risks. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to achieve remote code execution, especially if the application deserializes untrusted data due to another vulnerability.

Given the critical nature of this vulnerability, organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The public release of this information emphasizes the urgency for users of Drupal to assess their environments and apply necessary updates.

No public exploit has been confirmed at this time, however, the nature of the vulnerability suggests that it may be targeted in future attacks. Organizations should remain vigilant and monitor for any developments.

In summary, CVE-2024-55636 represents a serious risk that necessitates immediate action from all organizations utilizing the affected versions of Drupal.

Vulnerability Details

The official description of CVE-2024-55636 states that the vulnerability in Drupal Core allows for deserialization of untrusted data, leading to object injection. This issue is present in versions of Drupal from 8.0.0 before 10.2.11, from 10.3.0 before 10.3.9, and from 11.0.0 before 11.0.8. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data) and CWE-915 (Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Pointer).

The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 9.8, indicating a critical severity level. The attack vector is network-based, with low attack complexity and no privileges required for exploitation. There is no need for user interaction, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous. The impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all rated as high.

The vulnerability was published on December 10, 2024, and the status is currently analyzed. Organizations are advised to take immediate action as part of their security posture.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insecure deserialization of data within the Drupal Core. The vulnerability manifests through a chain of methods that, while not directly threatening, can facilitate remote code execution if exploited alongside another vulnerability. This type of attack can occur over the network, requiring no privileges or user interaction.

Given that the attack complexity is low, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially in environments where Drupal installations are improperly configured. The potential for exploitation underscores the importance of maintaining secure coding practices and regular security assessments.

Risk & Impact Analysis

The real-world risk associated with CVE-2024-55636 is substantial. Organizations utilizing affected versions of Drupal are at risk for severe data breaches and unauthorized access, as attackers may leverage this vulnerability for remote code execution. The blast radius could be extensive, impacting not only the Drupal application itself but also any connected systems and data.

Given the critical CVSS score and the potential for exploitation, organizations should prioritize remediation efforts based on the urgency of the situation. The risk to organizations includes potential data loss, reputational damage, and significant operational disruptions.

Signal

Status

Known Exploit

No

Public PoC

No

Actively Exploited

No

Ransomware Use

No

Affected Versions

The affected versions of Drupal Core include all versions from 8.0.0 up to but not including 10.2.11, from 10.3.0 up to but not including 10.3.9, and from 11.0.0 up to but not including 11.0.8. Organizations using these versions must take immediate action to patch their systems.

Mitigation & Remediation

Organizations should prioritize patching their Drupal installations to version 10.2.11 or later, 10.3.9 or later, or 11.0.8 or later, depending on their current version. If immediate patching is not feasible, consider implementing temporary workarounds, such as restricting access to the application until a patch can be applied.

In addition to patching, organizations should conduct security assessments and ensure their configurations adhere to best practices. Regular monitoring and logging can help detect any unusual activity that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability.

Penetration testing can also assist in identifying vulnerabilities and validating that patches are effective.

Detection Guidance

To detect potential exploitation of CVE-2024-55636, organizations should monitor logs for any unusual deserialization attempts or unexpected object injections. Behavioral anomalies within the application, such as unexpected errors during data handling, should be investigated promptly.

Network signatures indicating exploitation attempts can be useful, and organizations should ensure that their incident response teams are prepared to respond to any indicators of compromise.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

The long-term significance of CVE-2024-55636 highlights the importance of secure coding practices within the Drupal community. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with deserialization vulnerabilities and the need for robust validation mechanisms.

Security teams should learn from this incident to enhance their defenses against similar vulnerabilities in the future. Regularly updating and patching systems, alongside conducting thorough security assessments, can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation.

Implementing a vulnerability management program is essential for organizations to stay ahead of potential threats and ensure their applications remain secure.

Continuous penetration testing can also play a crucial role in identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities proactively.

API security assessments should be considered to address similar vulnerabilities in web applications.

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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