CVE-2008-3662 in Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
Gallery before 1.5.9, and 2.x before 2.2.6, does not set the secure flag for the session cookie in an https session, which can cause the cookie to be sent in http requests and make it easier for remote attackers to capture this cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3662 affects the Gallery content management system versions prior to 1.5.9 and 2.x versions prior to 2.2.6. This issue represents a critical security flaw in how the application handles session management within secure HTTPS connections. The vulnerability specifically targets the session cookie configuration, which is fundamental to maintaining user authentication state and preventing unauthorized access to protected resources. When a user establishes an HTTPS session with the Gallery application, the system should ensure that session cookies are properly marked with the secure flag to prevent transmission over unencrypted HTTP connections.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's failure to implement proper cookie security attributes during HTTPS sessions. The secure flag is a critical HTTP cookie attribute that instructs web browsers to only transmit the cookie over secure HTTPS connections and never over plain HTTP. Without this flag, session cookies become vulnerable to interception during man-in-the-middle attacks or when users inadvertently navigate to HTTP versions of the site. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to capture session cookies through various attack vectors including network sniffing, compromised network infrastructure, or when users access the application through insecure connections. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-614, which specifically addresses the insecure transmission of information via HTTP instead of HTTPS.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking scenarios. Attackers who successfully capture session cookies can impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to protected content, administrative functions, and user data within the Gallery application. This risk is particularly severe in environments where users may access the application from public networks or where there are mixed HTTP/HTTPS content scenarios. The vulnerability undermines the entire session management framework of the application, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges, modify content, or access sensitive user information. The risk is amplified by the fact that many users may not be aware of the security implications of mixed content or may inadvertently navigate to insecure versions of the application.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper cookie security configurations within the Gallery application. Organizations should ensure that all session cookies are marked with the secure flag when transmitted over HTTPS connections, and additionally implement the HttpOnly flag to prevent client-side script access to session cookies. The most effective remediation involves updating to Gallery versions 1.5.9 or 2.2.6, which contain the necessary patches to properly configure session cookies. Network administrators should also implement strict HTTPS enforcement mechanisms including HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) headers to prevent downgrade attacks and ensure that all application traffic is properly encrypted. Security monitoring should include detection of insecure cookie transmission patterns and regular vulnerability scanning to identify any remaining instances of this flaw within the application environment. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cookie security implementation and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential access through network sniffing and session hijacking attacks.