CVE-2008-6128 in moziloCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Session fixation vulnerability in moziloCMS 1.10.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to hijack web sessions by setting the PHPSESSID parameter.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2018
The session fixation vulnerability identified in moziloCMS version 1.10.2 and earlier represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of web application authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically affects the session management implementation within the content management system, creating an exploitable condition where attackers can manipulate session identifiers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. The flaw resides in how the application handles PHP session cookies, particularly the PHPSESSID parameter that is used to maintain user authentication state across HTTP requests.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly regenerate session identifiers upon successful authentication. When a user logs into the moziloCMS system, the application should generate a new, unique session identifier that is separate from any previously established session. However, in vulnerable versions, the system allows the PHPSESSID parameter to remain unchanged or be explicitly set by an attacker, enabling session fixation attacks. This occurs because the application does not implement proper session regeneration mechanisms that would invalidate existing sessions and establish fresh ones upon user authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user accounts and potentially sensitive administrative functions within the cms. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can maintain access to compromised sessions even after users log out or change their passwords, creating a long-term security risk. The remote nature of this attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the target system or network. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on PHP session management and demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the application's session lifecycle management.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a variant of the common session fixation attack pattern that has been documented across numerous web application frameworks and platforms. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-384, which specifically addresses session fixation issues in web applications, and represents a clear violation of secure session management practices. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability would be categorized under the privilege escalation and persistence domains of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, as it allows attackers to maintain access to authenticated sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the cms environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper session regeneration practices within the moziloCMS application. The recommended approach involves ensuring that session identifiers are regenerated upon successful user authentication, with the old session destroyed and a new one established. This can be achieved by implementing session_regenerate_id(true) in PHP applications after authentication completes, which invalidates the old session and creates a new secure identifier. Additionally, applications should enforce secure session cookie attributes including HttpOnly, Secure, and SameSite flags to prevent cross-site scripting attacks that could further compromise session integrity. System administrators should also implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious session activity and consider implementing additional authentication layers such as two-factor authentication to provide defense-in-depth against session-related attacks.