CVE-2018-7602
CVE-2018-7602 is a security flaw in Drupal Core, software for building and running websites. Attackers can run their own code on Drupal Core. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 13 Apr 2022, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
Drupal Core is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Fixed in version 7.59, 8.5.3 and 8.4.8 of core.
Description
CISA calls it a remote code execution in Drupal Core. In its words: “A remote code execution vulnerability exists within multiple subsystems of Drupal that can allow attackers to exploit multiple attack vectors on a Drupal site.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “A remote code execution vulnerability exists within multiple subsystems of Drupal 7.x and 8.x. This potentially allows attackers to exploit multiple attack vectors on a Drupal site, which could result in the site being compromised. This vulnerability is related to Drupal core - Highly critical - Remote Code Execution - SA-CORE-2018-002. Both SA-CORE-2018-002 and this vulnerability are being exploited in the wild.”[2]
The underlying weakness is code injection (CWE-94), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it critical, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| core | 7.59 |
| core | 8.5.3 |
| core | 8.4.8 |
Most families won’t have Drupal Core; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 13 Apr 2022, 1,364 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 4 May 2022 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 99%. That’s in the top 1% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Drupal has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Drupal Core is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed (fixed in version 7.59, 8.5.3 and 8.4.8 of core), or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 4 May 2022 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 9.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 99%.[4] |
See also
Other Drupal Core flaws
- CVE-2026-9082: SQL injection ·
- CVE-2019-6340: remote code execution ·
Other Drupal flaws
- CVE-2020-13671, Drupal core: core un-restricted upload of file ·
- CVE-2018-7600, Drupal Core: core remote code execution ·
Other code injection flaws
- CVE-2026-0322, Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS: code injection ·
- CVE-2026-65660, Microsoft SharePoint: code injection ·
- CVE-2026-60004, Gitea: code injection ·
- CVE-2026-72530, TrueConf Server: code injection ·
- CVE-2025-62593, Ray-Project Ray: code injection ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2022-24521, Microsoft Windows: CLFS driver privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2018-20753, Kaseya Virtual System/Server Administrator (VSA): VSA remote code execution ·
- CVE-2015-5123, Adobe Flash Player: use-after-free ·
- CVE-2015-5122, Adobe Flash Player: use-after-free ·
- CVE-2015-3113, Adobe Flash Player: heap-based buffer overflow ·
Every Drupal flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in April 2022
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Drupal Core Remote Code Execution Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 13 Apr 2022.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2018-7602 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 19 Jul 2018.
- ^ Drupal. Advisories and fixes: drupal.org.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.992, percentile 99.9, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2018-7602”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.