CVE-2009-1878 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE
Session fixation vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion 8.0.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to hijack web sessions via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-1878 represents a critical session fixation flaw within Adobe ColdFusion versions 8.0.1 and earlier, classified under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-384. This weakness specifically addresses the improper handling of session identifiers during authentication processes, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit web session management mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly regenerate session tokens upon successful user authentication, leaving existing session identifiers vulnerable to manipulation by malicious actors.
Adobe ColdFusion, as a comprehensive web application development platform, handles numerous session-related operations through its built-in session management system. The session fixation vulnerability manifests when the application does not adequately invalidate or regenerate session identifiers during the authentication process, allowing an attacker who has already established a session to maintain access to that session even after legitimate users authenticate. This flaw enables attackers to perform session hijacking attacks by obtaining a valid session token before user authentication and then using that token to impersonate the authenticated user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attack vectors within the broader MITRE ATT&CK framework. Attackers can leverage this weakness to maintain persistent access to web applications, potentially escalating privileges or accessing sensitive data. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of web applications running on affected ColdFusion versions, particularly those handling authentication and session management. Given that ColdFusion was widely deployed for enterprise web applications, the potential scope of exploitation was significant, especially in environments where session management was not properly configured or monitored.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-1878 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe ColdFusion installations to version 8.0.2 or later, which addressed the session fixation vulnerability through proper session token regeneration mechanisms. Organizations should also implement comprehensive session management policies that enforce session regeneration upon authentication, utilize secure session cookie attributes including HttpOnly and Secure flags, and implement proper session timeout mechanisms. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual session behavior patterns, while regular security assessments should verify that session management configurations align with industry best practices such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-116 for session management. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar session-related weaknesses across their web application portfolio, ensuring that all applications properly implement secure session handling mechanisms as defined in OWASP Top Ten security practices.