CVE-2007-3978 in bwired
Summary
by MITRE
Session fixation vulnerability in bwired allows remote attackers to hijack web sessions by setting the PHPSESSID parameter.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2024
The CVE-2007-3978 vulnerability represents a critical session fixation flaw in the bwired web application framework that enables remote attackers to hijack user sessions through manipulation of the PHPSESSID parameter. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of session management weaknesses that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature and represents a fundamental flaw in how web applications handle session identifiers. The vulnerability specifically affects applications built on the bwired framework where session identifiers are not properly regenerated upon user authentication, creating a persistent session identifier that can be exploited by malicious actors. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to maintain persistent access to user accounts without requiring valid credentials, effectively bypassing authentication mechanisms entirely.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of session identifiers within the bwired framework's authentication process. When users authenticate to the application, the system fails to regenerate the session identifier, leaving the original PHPSESSID parameter unchanged and predictable. Attackers can exploit this by first obtaining a valid session identifier from a victim, then redirecting the victim to a page that uses the same session identifier, thereby allowing the attacker to assume the victim's authenticated session. This process does not require any special privileges or complex exploitation techniques, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely heavily on session-based authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through simple HTTP parameter manipulation, demonstrating how basic session management flaws can create significant security risks.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-3978 extends beyond simple session hijacking to encompass potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and complete account compromise. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can access all resources and functionality available to the legitimate user, including personal data, financial information, and administrative capabilities if the compromised account has elevated privileges. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the session management weakness category that has been consistently identified as a critical risk in web application security assessments. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.005 which covers legitimate credentials and session management abuse, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper session management practices that align with established security standards and best practices. The primary remediation involves ensuring that session identifiers are regenerated upon successful user authentication, which prevents the reuse of potentially compromised session tokens. This approach directly addresses the CWE-384 category of session fixation vulnerabilities where session identifiers are not properly invalidated or regenerated during authentication processes. Organizations should implement session regeneration mechanisms that invalidate existing sessions and create new unique identifiers upon user login, effectively breaking any potential session hijacking attempts. Additionally, security measures should include proper session cookie attributes such as HttpOnly, Secure, and SameSite flags to prevent cross-site scripting attacks that could further compromise session integrity. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on session management practices should be implemented to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the application portfolio.