CVE-2007-3988 in Virtual Hosting Control System
Summary
by MITRE
Session fixation vulnerability in Virtual Hosting Control System (VHCS) 2.4.7.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to hijack web sessions by setting the PHPSESSID parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3988 represents a critical session fixation flaw within the Virtual Hosting Control System version 2.4.7.1 and earlier releases. This issue specifically affects the session management mechanism of the web application, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system's authentication and authorization controls. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly regenerate session identifiers upon successful authentication, leaving existing session tokens vulnerable to manipulation by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this flaw resides in how VHCS handles PHP session management through the PHPSESSID parameter. When users authenticate to the system, the application does not invalidate or regenerate the session identifier, allowing attackers who can predict or obtain a valid session token to maintain persistent access to user accounts. This weakness enables attackers to establish a session with a known session identifier and then use that same identifier to impersonate legitimate users once they authenticate. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-384 as session fixation, which is a well-documented weakness in web application security that directly impacts the integrity of authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with sustained privileges within the hosting control system. Since VHCS manages virtual hosting environments, successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain administrative control over multiple domains and their associated resources. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited at scale, potentially affecting numerous users and domains managed through the vulnerable system.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a prime example of how inadequate session management can compromise entire web applications. The flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.003 which covers bypassing system permissions through session management weaknesses. Organizations using VHCS versions 2.4.7.1 or earlier should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions, implementing proper session regeneration upon authentication, and configuring the application to invalidate session identifiers when users log in. Additional protective measures include monitoring for suspicious session activity and ensuring that session tokens are properly secured through secure cookie attributes and HTTPS enforcement. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper session management in maintaining application security and user trust in web-based control systems.