Skip to main content

Drupal core - Critical - Arbitrary PHP code execution - SA-CORE-2022-014

Project: 

Drupal core

Date: 

2022-July-20

Security risk: 

Critical 15∕25 AC:Basic/A:Admin/CI:All/II:All/E:Theoretical/TD:Uncommon

Vulnerability: 

Arbitrary PHP code execution

Affected versions: 

>= 8.0.0 <9.3.19 || >= 9.4.0 <9.4.3

CVE IDs: 

CVE-2022-25277

Description: 

Updated 2022-07-20 19:45 UTC to indicate that this only affects Apache web servers.

Drupal core sanitizes filenames with dangerous extensions upon upload (reference: SA-CORE-2020-012) and strips leading and trailing dots from filenames to prevent uploading server configuration files (reference: SA-CORE-2019-010).

However, the protections for these two vulnerabilities previously did not work correctly together. As a result, if the site were configured to allow the upload of files with an htaccess extension, these files' filenames would not be properly sanitized. This could allow bypassing the protections provided by Drupal core's default .htaccess files and possible remote code execution on Apache web servers.

This issue is mitigated by the fact that it requires a field administrator to explicitly configure a file field to allow htaccess as an extension (a restricted permission), or a contributed module or custom code that overrides allowed file uploads.

Solution: 

Install the latest version:

All versions of Drupal 9 prior to 9.3.x are end-of-life and do not receive security coverage. Note that Drupal 8 has reached its end of life.

Drupal 7 core is not affected.

Auditing your files directory's .htaccess to ensure it has not been overwritten or overridden in a subdirectory

If your web server uses Apache httpd with AllowOverride, you should check within your files directories and subdirectories to ensure that any .htaccess files present are intentional. You can search for files named .htaccess by running the following command in the roots of both your public and private files directory:

find ./ -name ".htaccess" -print

Drupal automatically creates .htaccess files like the following in the root of the public files directory:

# Turn off all options we don't need. Options -Indexes -ExecCGI -Includes -MultiViews # Set the catch-all handler to prevent scripts from being executed. SetHandler Drupal_Security_Do_Not_Remove_See_SA_2006_006 <Files *> # Override the handler again if we're run later in the evaluation list. SetHandler Drupal_Security_Do_Not_Remove_See_SA_2013_003 </Files> # If we know how to do it safely, disable the PHP engine entirely. <IfModule mod_php7.c> php_flag engine off </IfModule> <IfModule mod_php.c> php_flag engine off </IfModule>

Check with your system administrator for the correct .htaccess configuration for the given files directory.

This advisory is not covered by Drupal Steward.

Reported By: 

Fixed By: 

About

Kenya Education Network CERT(KENET-CERT) is a Cybersecurity Emergency Response Team and Co-ordination Center operated by the National Research and Education Network of Kenya. KENET-CERT coordination center promotes awareness on cybersecurity incidences as well as coordinates and assists member institutions in responding effectively to cyber security threats and incidences. KENET-CERT works closely with Kenya's National CIRT coordination center (CIRT/CC) as a sector CIRT for the academic institutions. KENET promotes use of ICT in Teaching, Learning and Research in Higher Education Institutions in Kenya. KENET aims to interconnect all the Universities, Tertiary and Research Institutions in Kenya by setting up a cost effective and sustainable private network with high speed access to the global Internet. KENET also facilitates electronic communication among students and faculties in member institutions, share learning and teaching resources by collaboration in Research and Development of Educational content.