CVE-2009-5014 in TurboGears2
Summary
by MITRE
The default quickstart configuration of TurboGears2 (aka tg2) before 2.0.2 has a weak cookie salt, which makes it easier for remote attackers to bypass repoze.who authentication via a forged authorization cookie, a related issue to CVE-2010-3852.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-5014 affects the TurboGears2 web application framework version 2.0.1 and earlier, specifically targeting the default quickstart configuration that ships with weak cryptographic parameters. This issue resides in the authentication mechanism implementation where the cookie salt used for session management and authorization purposes is insufficiently random, creating a predictable cryptographic foundation that undermines the security of the entire authentication system. The weakness manifests in the cookie salt generation process, which fails to utilize proper cryptographic randomness, making it susceptible to brute force attacks and prediction attempts by malicious actors.
The technical flaw stems from the inadequate entropy in the cookie salt value, which serves as a critical component in the cryptographic operations that protect session identifiers and authorization tokens within the TurboGears2 framework. When a weak cookie salt is used, it significantly reduces the computational complexity required for an attacker to forge valid authorization cookies that can bypass the repoze.who authentication system. This vulnerability specifically impacts the session management layer where authorization cookies are generated and validated, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to protected resources. The flaw operates at the application layer, affecting the framework's core security mechanisms rather than underlying infrastructure components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it allows remote attackers to completely bypass the authentication controls that are meant to protect application resources. An attacker who successfully exploits this weakness can impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to protected application functionality, potentially leading to data breaches, privilege escalation, and unauthorized system modifications. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the default configuration, meaning that any installation using the standard quickstart setup is automatically vulnerable without any additional configuration changes. This makes the attack surface much broader than typical framework vulnerabilities that require specific misconfigurations to be exploitable.
The security implications extend beyond simple authentication bypass to encompass potential data compromise and system integrity violations, as the forged cookies can grant access to sensitive application functions and user data. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-326, which addresses inadequate encryption strength, and represents a specific instance of weak cryptographic key generation that undermines the security of authentication mechanisms. The attack vector is classified as remote and requires no special privileges, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely on the framework's default security settings. Organizations using TurboGears2 without proper security hardening are exposed to this risk, as the default quickstart configuration does not implement adequate cryptographic practices for session management.
The recommended mitigations include upgrading to TurboGears2 version 2.0.2 or later, which contains the fixed cookie salt generation implementation. Administrators should also implement proper cryptographic randomization for all session-related parameters and avoid relying on default configurations for security-critical applications. Additional protective measures include monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns and implementing network-level controls to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in web frameworks and highlights the need for security-conscious default configurations that do not compromise on essential security controls. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege and additional authentication layers to reduce the impact of potential credential compromise.