CVE-2007-2719 in Systems Insight Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Session fixation vulnerability in HP Systems Insight Manager (SIM) 4.2 and 5.0 SP4 and SP5 allows remote attackers to hijack web sessions by setting the JSESSIONID cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2719 represents a critical session fixation flaw within HP Systems Insight Manager versions 4.2 and 5.0 SP4 and SP5. This issue resides in the web-based administrative interface of the system management software, which is widely deployed in enterprise environments for monitoring and managing HP hardware infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly invalidate session identifiers upon user authentication, creating a persistent session token that remains unchanged throughout the authentication process. This flaw directly violates security best practices for session management and exposes the system to unauthorized access attempts by malicious actors who can exploit the predictable nature of the JSESSIONID cookie.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the web application layer where HP SIM fails to generate new session identifiers when users successfully authenticate. When an unauthenticated user accesses the system, the application assigns a fixed session identifier that persists even after legitimate authentication occurs. Attackers can exploit this behavior by first obtaining a valid session token, then sharing or forcing this token with a victim user. The vulnerability specifically affects the JSESSIONID cookie mechanism used by the web container, which is typically based on java servlet session management. This allows attackers to maintain persistent access to the system with the privileges of the authenticated user, effectively bypassing authentication controls and gaining unauthorized administrative access to the monitored infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to perform administrative actions within the HP SIM environment. This includes but is not limited to viewing sensitive system information, modifying configuration settings, accessing monitoring data, and potentially escalating privileges within the managed infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core management interface of the system, which typically contains comprehensive information about the entire IT infrastructure being monitored. Security practitioners must consider that this vulnerability could be exploited in conjunction with other attacks to gain complete control over the managed systems, making it a high-priority issue for enterprise security teams.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-2719 should focus on immediate patching of affected HP SIM versions, as well as implementing additional security controls to prevent session fixation attacks. Organizations should ensure that all HP SIM installations are updated to versions that properly invalidate session identifiers upon authentication. The fix typically involves modifying the web application to regenerate session tokens during the authentication process, which aligns with the principles outlined in CWE-384 for session management. Security measures should also include implementing proper session timeout mechanisms, using secure cookie attributes such as HttpOnly and Secure flags, and monitoring for suspicious session activity. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, making it particularly relevant for organizations implementing defensive strategies against advanced persistent threats. Network segmentation and additional authentication layers should be considered as compensating controls while patches are deployed.