SA-CONTRIB-2012-146 - Simplenews Scheduler - Arbitrary code execution

The Simplenews Scheduler module provides a system for creating automatic email newsletters. These can be set to be sent at a fixed interval, or PHP code can be entered to evaluate a condition for a new newsletter issue to be sent.

The module allows a user with the ‘send scheduled newsletters’ access to the scheduling form where PHP code may be entered. This code is then executed the next time the site runs cron. A site administrator granting permissions is not given sufficient warning that they are granting this level of access to the site.

This vulnerability is mitigated by the fact that an attacker must have already been granted a role with the permission ‘send scheduled newsletters’.

CVE: CVE-2012-5537

Versions affected

• Simplenews Scheduler 6.x-2.x versions prior to 6.x-2.3.

Drupal core is not affected. If you do not use the contributed Simplenews Scheduler module, there is nothing you need to do.

Solution

Install the latest version:

• If you use the Simplenews Scheduler module for Drupal 6.x, upgrade to Simplenews Scheduler 6.x-2.4

Also see the Simplenews Scheduler project page.

Reported by

• Sascha Grossenbacher
• Joachim Noreiko the module maintainer

Fixed by

• Joachim Noreiko the module maintainer
• Sascha Grossenbacher

Coordinated by

• Greg Knaddison of the Drupal Security Team