CVE-2008-3428 in phpFreeChat
Summary
by MITRE
Session fixation vulnerability in phpFreeChat 1.1 allows remote authenticated users to hijack web sessions by setting the session_id parameter to match the victim s nickid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3428 represents a critical session fixation flaw within the phpFreeChat 1.1 messaging platform that exposes web applications to unauthorized session hijacking attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the session management mechanism of the application, creating a pathway for malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to user sessions. The flaw manifests when authenticated users interact with the chat system, as the application fails to properly invalidate or regenerate session identifiers upon user authentication, leaving sessions vulnerable to manipulation by attackers who can predict or control session identifiers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper session handling within the phpFreeChat framework where the session_id parameter becomes directly influenced by the victim's nickid parameter. This creates a scenario where an attacker can craft a session identifier that matches the target user's nickname, effectively allowing them to establish a session with the same identifier that a legitimate user would receive. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the predictable nature of session identifier generation, particularly when user-provided data such as nicknames is directly used to construct session identifiers. This flaw aligns with CWE-384, which addresses session fixation vulnerabilities where session identifiers are not properly regenerated after authentication, and specifically relates to the broader category of weak session management practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking to potentially enable complete unauthorized access to user accounts and chat functionalities. Attackers can exploit this flaw to impersonate legitimate users, access private conversations, send messages on behalf of victims, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. The vulnerability affects both the confidentiality and integrity of the chat system, as unauthorized parties can intercept and manipulate communications. This type of attack falls under the ATT&CK technique T1548.003 for hijacking sessions, where adversaries manipulate session identifiers to gain access to user sessions. The vulnerability also impacts availability by potentially allowing attackers to disrupt chat services through session manipulation attacks, making it particularly dangerous for collaborative environments where chat systems serve as primary communication channels.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper session management practices within the phpFreeChat application. The most effective approach involves ensuring that session identifiers are regenerated upon successful authentication, preventing the use of predictable or user-controlled values in session creation. Organizations should implement session regeneration mechanisms that invalidate existing sessions and create new secure identifiers when users authenticate. Additionally, the application should enforce strict input validation on session parameters and ensure that session identifiers are generated using cryptographically secure random number generators. Security measures should include implementing session timeout mechanisms, using secure session cookie attributes such as HttpOnly and Secure flags, and ensuring that session identifiers are not exposed in URLs or logs. The vulnerability also necessitates regular security audits of session management components and adherence to secure coding practices that prevent user input from directly influencing session identifier generation, aligning with industry standards for secure session handling as defined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for web application security.