CVE-2009-4354 in Active! mail
Summary
by MITRE
TransWARE Active! mail 2003 build 2003.0139.0871 and earlier does not properly secure the session ID in a session cookie, which allows remote attackers to hijack web sessions, probably related to the "secure" flag for cookies in SSL sessions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4354 affects TransWARE Active! mail 2003 build 2003.0139.0871 and earlier versions, representing a critical session management flaw that compromises web application security. This issue specifically targets the session cookie handling mechanism within the mail application's web interface, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to user sessions. The vulnerability stems from improper implementation of security measures that should protect session identifiers from interception and exploitation by malicious actors operating remotely.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's failure to properly implement the secure flag for cookies used in SSL sessions, which is a fundamental security control designed to prevent session hijacking attacks. When the secure flag is properly set on session cookies, it ensures that the cookies are only transmitted over encrypted HTTPS connections, preventing them from being captured during transmission over unencrypted HTTP connections. In this case, the absence of the secure flag means that session identifiers can be transmitted in cleartext over insecure channels, making them vulnerable to interception through man-in-the-middle attacks or network sniffing techniques. This flaw directly relates to CWE-614, which addresses the improper storage of sensitive data in cookies, and specifically targets the weakness in cookie security configuration that allows for session token exposure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it enables remote attackers to hijack active user sessions without requiring authentication credentials or exploiting other application-level vulnerabilities. An attacker who successfully intercepts a session cookie can impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to their email accounts, potentially accessing sensitive information, sending malicious emails, or performing destructive actions within the compromised accounts. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where users access the mail application over unsecured networks or public Wi-Fi connections, as these scenarios provide ideal conditions for network traffic interception. This type of attack falls under the ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically targeting credential access through the exploitation of session management weaknesses.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate implementation of the secure flag on all session cookies, ensuring that they are only transmitted over encrypted connections. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including mandatory HTTPS enforcement, proper cookie configuration with additional security attributes such as HttpOnly and SameSite flags, and regular security audits of web applications to identify similar configuration issues. The fix requires updating the application to a version that properly implements secure cookie handling or manually configuring the web server to enforce secure cookie transmission. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential cookie interception attempts, while users should be educated about the risks of accessing sensitive applications over unsecured networks. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper session management implementation and serves as a reminder that even legacy applications require security updates to protect against evolving threat landscapes.