CVE-2007-3053 in Calimero.CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Session fixation vulnerability in Calimero.CMS 3.3.1232 and earlier allows remote attackers to hijack web sessions by setting the PHPSESSID parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3053 represents a critical session fixation flaw within Calimero.CMS versions 3.3.1232 and earlier. This weakness fundamentally compromises the authentication and session management mechanisms that are essential for web application security. The issue stems from the application's failure to properly regenerate session identifiers upon successful authentication, creating a scenario where attackers can manipulate session tokens to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability specifically affects the PHPSESSID parameter, which is a standard session identifier used by PHP applications to maintain user sessions across multiple requests.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when the web application does not adequately handle session token regeneration during the authentication process. When a user logs into the system, the application should generate a new, unique session identifier that replaces any existing session token. However, in vulnerable versions of Calimero.CMS, the system allows attackers to set the PHPSESSID parameter directly, enabling them to establish a known session token that they can later use to impersonate legitimate users. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-384, which specifically addresses session fixation issues where applications fail to properly manage session identifiers. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to predict or control the session token, bypassing normal authentication procedures and establishing persistent access to user sessions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing Calimero.CMS, as it enables remote attackers to hijack active user sessions without requiring knowledge of valid credentials. Attackers can exploit this weakness through various means including cross-site scripting attacks, man-in-the-middle attacks, or by simply crafting malicious URLs that contain predetermined session tokens. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as compromised sessions can lead to complete account takeovers, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within network environments. This vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1110 technique category, which encompasses credential access methods that involve session hijacking and exploitation of authentication mechanisms.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on implementing proper session management practices within the application code. Organizations should ensure that session identifiers are regenerated upon successful authentication, effectively breaking any existing session associations that might have been established by an attacker. The recommended approach involves implementing session regeneration functions that create new, cryptographically secure session tokens and invalidate the previous ones. Additionally, applications should enforce secure session cookie attributes including the HttpOnly flag to prevent client-side script access, and the Secure flag to ensure cookies are only transmitted over encrypted connections. Organizations should also consider implementing session timeout mechanisms and monitoring for unusual session activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar session management flaws, and the system should be updated to versions that address this specific vulnerability. The fix typically requires modifications to the application's authentication logic to ensure that session tokens are properly managed and that the PHPSESSID parameter cannot be manipulated by external parties to establish fixed session states.