CVE-2008-5964 in ImpressCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Session fixation vulnerability in Social ImpressCMS before 1.1.1 RC1 allows remote attackers to hijack web sessions by setting the PHPSESSID parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2018
The session fixation vulnerability identified in Social ImpressCMS prior to version 1.1.1 RC1 represents a critical security weakness that enables remote attackers to hijack user sessions through manipulation of the PHPSESSID parameter. This flaw falls under the category of session management vulnerabilities and specifically aligns with CWE-384, which addresses session fixation issues in web applications. The vulnerability exists because the application fails to properly regenerate session identifiers upon user authentication, creating an opportunity for attackers to establish a known session ID and subsequently take control of user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of session management during the authentication process. When users log into the Social ImpressCMS platform, the system does not regenerate the session identifier after successful authentication, allowing an attacker who has already established a session to maintain control over that session throughout the user's browsing activity. This occurs because the PHPSESSID cookie parameter can be directly set by an attacker, enabling them to create a session that will be accepted by the application without proper validation or regeneration. The flaw specifically affects the session handling mechanism that should ensure unique session identifiers for each authenticated user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking, potentially enabling attackers to perform unauthorized actions within the application on behalf of legitimate users. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can access user accounts, modify content, access sensitive information, and perform administrative functions depending on the user's privileges within the Social ImpressCMS environment. The risk is particularly elevated because session fixation attacks can be executed without requiring any special privileges or complex exploitation techniques, making them accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the application's user data and services.
Mitigation strategies for this session fixation vulnerability should focus on implementing proper session management practices that align with security best practices and industry standards. The primary remediation involves ensuring that session identifiers are regenerated upon successful user authentication, as specified in OWASP Top 10 security guidelines and the CWE-384 standard. This can be achieved by implementing session regeneration functions that create new session identifiers after authentication, thereby invalidating any previously established sessions. Additionally, security measures should include setting secure session cookie attributes such as HttpOnly and Secure flags, implementing proper session timeout mechanisms, and ensuring that session identifiers are not predictable or easily guessable. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect and prevent unauthorized session access attempts.