CVE-2011-4972: hook_file_download in the CKEditor module 7.x-1.4 for Drupal does not properly restrict access to private f...

Security readout for executives and security teams

CVE-2011-4972 is an access-control flaw in the CKEditor module for Drupal 7. Affected sites may expose files intended to be private if an attacker requests them directly. The business concern is unauthorized disclosure, not system takeover based on the provided sources. Exposure is likely limited to Drupal 7 sites running CKEditor Drupal module 7.x-1.4 and using Drupal private file storage. Sites not using that module version or not storing sensitive files as private are less likely to be affected. Treat this as a data exposure issue for legacy Drupal assets. Prioritize if the affected module version exists on public-facing sites with sensitive private files. The provided evidence does not support emergency active-exploitation language. Mitigation focus: Identify Drupal 7 sites using CKEditor module 7.x-1.4.; Review the Drupal advisory and module release notes for a supported fix or workaround.; Prioritize remediation on sites storing sensitive private files..

Prepared

Jun 6, 2026, 04:48 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.