How to remediate – Drupal Version End of Life Advanced Notification

1. Introduction

The installation of Drupal running on the remote host will be no longer supported in November 2023. This means that security updates and patches will cease, increasing the risk of compromise from known and future vulnerabilities. Systems using unsupported software are likely to contain security weaknesses which could lead to confidentiality, integrity, or availability loss.

2. Technical Explanation

The vulnerability stems from the end-of-life status of the Drupal installation. Without ongoing security updates, any discovered flaws will remain unpatched, creating opportunities for attackers. An attacker could exploit known vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access, modify data, or disrupt service.

• Root cause: Lack of vendor support and resulting absence of security patches.
• Exploit mechanism: Attackers can leverage publicly available exploits targeting Drupal versions no longer receiving updates. For example, an attacker could exploit a remote code execution vulnerability to gain control of the server.
• Scope: All installations of Drupal that reach end-of-life in November 2023 are affected.

3. Detection and Assessment

• Quick checks: Use the command drush version to display the Drupal version and installation details.
• Scanning: Nessus plugin ID 165349 may detect end-of-life Drupal installations (example only).
• Logs and evidence: Review application logs for errors related to outdated modules or core versions.

drush version

4. Solution / Remediation Steps

Provide precise, ordered steps to fix the issue.

4.1 Preparation

• Dependencies: Ensure you have a compatible PHP version for the target Drupal upgrade. A roll back plan involves restoring from backup.
• Change window needs may apply, requiring approval from system owners.

4.2 Implementation

1. Step 1: Upgrade your Drupal installation to a supported version. This typically involves downloading the latest release and running the update script via the web interface or Drush.
2. Step 2: Verify that all core modules and contributed modules are compatible with the new Drupal version. Update any incompatible modules.

4.3 Config or Code Example

Before

#Example Drupal 7 installation nearing end of life.
drush version
Drupal version: 7.x.x

After

#Example upgraded to a supported Drupal 9 or 10 installation.
drush version
Drupal version: 9.x.x or 10.x.x

4.4 Security Practices Relevant to This Vulnerability

List only practices that directly address this vulnerability type.

• Practice 1: Maintain a current patch cadence for all software, including Drupal core and contributed modules.
• Practice 2: Implement regular security scans to identify outdated or vulnerable components.

4.5 Automation (Optional)

If suitable, provide a small script or infrastructure code that applies the fix at scale.

# Example Ansible task to check Drupal version (example only).
- name: Check Drupal Version
  command: drush version
  register: drupal_version
  changed_when: false
- debug:
    msg: "Drupal version is {{ drupal_version.stdout }}"

5. Verification / Validation

Explain how to confirm the fix worked.

• Post-fix check: Run drush version and verify that the output shows a supported Drupal version (e.g., 9.x.x or 10.x.x).
• Re-test: Re-run drush version to confirm the updated version is still installed after a system reboot.
• Smoke test: Verify key user actions, such as content creation and editing, are functioning correctly.
• Monitoring: Monitor application logs for errors related to Drupal core or module updates.

drush version

6. Preventive Measures and Monitoring

Suggest only measures that are relevant to the vulnerability type.

• Baselines: Update your security baseline to include a requirement for running supported software versions.
• Asset and patch process: Establish a regular review cycle for Drupal core and contributed module updates.

7. Risks, Side Effects, and Roll Back

List known risks or service impacts from the change.

• Risk or side effect 2: The upgrade process can be time-consuming and require downtime. Plan accordingly.

8. References and Resources

Link only to sources that match this exact vulnerability.

• Vendor advisory or bulletin: https://www.drupal.org/psa-2019-02-25
• NVD or CVE entry: Not applicable for end of life notification.
• Product or platform documentation relevant to the fix: https://www.drupal.org/docs/upgrade