CVE-2007-6077 in Rails
Summary
by MITRE
The session fixation protection mechanism in cgi_process.rb in Rails 1.2.4, as used in Ruby on Rails, removes the :cookie_only attribute from the DEFAULT_SESSION_OPTIONS constant, which effectively causes cookie_only to be applied only to the first instantiation of CgiRequest, which allows remote attackers to conduct session fixation attacks. NOTE: this is due to an incomplete fix for CVE-2007-5380.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-6077 represents a critical flaw in the Ruby on Rails framework's session management system that undermines fundamental security protections. This issue affects Rails version 1.2.4 and stems from an improper implementation of session fixation protection mechanisms within the cgi_process.rb file. The vulnerability specifically targets the DEFAULT_SESSION_OPTIONS constant which controls how session cookies are handled, creating a scenario where the security measures intended to prevent session fixation attacks are rendered ineffective.
The technical flaw manifests when the session fixation protection mechanism removes the :cookie_only attribute from the DEFAULT_SESSION_OPTIONS constant. This removal creates a state where cookie_only functionality is only effective for the first instantiation of CgiRequest objects. Subsequent requests or instantiations of the CgiRequest class fail to properly apply the cookie_only restriction, allowing attackers to exploit this inconsistency in session handling. The vulnerability operates at the core level of the framework's session management, where the security controls that should consistently enforce secure cookie practices are bypassed through a flawed attribute handling mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote attackers to conduct session fixation attacks against applications built on affected Rails versions. Session fixation attacks occur when an attacker can force a user to use a known session identifier, potentially allowing unauthorized access to user accounts. In this case, the incomplete fix for CVE-2007-5380 has created a regression where the original security protection has been partially disabled, leaving applications vulnerable to attacks that could compromise user sessions and potentially lead to full account takeover scenarios. This vulnerability affects the integrity of the entire session management system and undermines trust in the application's authentication mechanisms.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-384, which addresses session fixation issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1548.003 related to abuse of session management. The flaw represents a classic case of incomplete remediation where a previous fix introduced new weaknesses. Organizations using affected Rails versions must implement immediate mitigation strategies including upgrading to patched versions of the framework, implementing additional session validation controls, and monitoring for suspicious session-related activities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of thorough testing when implementing security fixes to ensure that remediations do not introduce regressions that could leave systems more vulnerable than before.