CVE-2007-0011 in Access Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
The web portal interface in Citrix Access Gateway (aka Citrix Advanced Access Control) before Advanced Edition 4.5 HF1 places a session ID in the URL, which allows context-dependent attackers to hijack sessions by reading "residual information", including the a referer log, browser history, or browser cache.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0011 represents a critical session management flaw in Citrix Access Gateway implementations prior to Advanced Edition 4.5 HF1. This weakness stems from the insecure handling of session identifiers within the web portal interface, where session tokens are explicitly embedded in URL parameters rather than being managed through secure server-side mechanisms. The fundamental issue lies in the application's failure to implement proper session handling protocols that would prevent session ID exposure in client-side contexts, creating a direct pathway for unauthorized access to user sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through what cybersecurity professionals refer to as "session hijacking" or "session prediction" attacks. When session IDs appear in URLs, they become vulnerable to several attack vectors including cross-site request forgery, session fixation, and passive reconnaissance techniques. Attackers can leverage residual information stored in various browser artifacts such as referer headers, browser history caches, and temporary internet files to extract these session identifiers. This approach aligns with attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under the "Credential Access" and "Initial Access" domains, where adversaries exploit information disclosure vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session theft, creating a comprehensive security risk that affects the integrity and confidentiality of user sessions within the Citrix Access Gateway environment. Organizations utilizing affected versions face potential unauthorized access to privileged resources, data breaches, and compromise of sensitive corporate information. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where Citrix Access Gateway serves as a primary authentication and access control mechanism for enterprise resources, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on this platform for secure remote access solutions.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability directly relates to CWE-384, which addresses "Session Management Flaws" and specifically targets the improper handling of session identifiers in web applications. The flaw demonstrates a failure to implement proper session management best practices, including the use of secure session tokens, proper session lifecycle management, and avoidance of exposing session identifiers in URLs. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Citrix Advanced Edition 4.5 HF1 or later versions, implementing URL rewriting mechanisms to prevent session ID exposure, and deploying additional security controls such as secure session cookies with appropriate flags. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security assessments of all web applications to identify similar session management vulnerabilities that may exist within the broader IT infrastructure.