CVE-2010-3471 in FileNet P8 Application Engine
Summary
by MITRE
Session fixation vulnerability in the Workplace (aka WP) component in IBM FileNet P8 Application Engine (P8AE) 4.0.2.x before 4.0.2.7-P8AE-FP007 allows remote attackers to hijack web sessions via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2018
The CVE-2010-3471 vulnerability represents a critical session fixation weakness within IBM FileNet P8 Application Engine version 4.0.2.x prior to 4.0.2.7-P8AE-FP007. This flaw specifically affects the Workplace component of the FileNet P8 platform, which serves as the primary user interface for content management and workflow automation. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to exploit session management mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to user sessions, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The issue stems from insufficient session invalidation practices during authentication processes, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate session identifiers and maintain persistent access to victim accounts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the failure to properly regenerate session identifiers upon successful authentication within the Workplace component. When users authenticate to the FileNet P8 environment, the system should invalidate the existing session and generate a new unique identifier to prevent session fixation attacks. However, the affected versions maintain the original session token, allowing attackers who have obtained a valid session identifier to reuse it and hijack user sessions. This weakness aligns with CWE-384, which specifically addresses session fixation vulnerabilities where applications fail to properly handle session management during authentication transitions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through network-based attacks without requiring local system access or elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to perform privileged actions within the FileNet P8 environment. Once an attacker successfully hijacks a session, they can access sensitive documents, modify content, execute workflows, and potentially escalate privileges within the system. The Workplace component serves as the primary interface for content management operations, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations handling confidential or regulated data. Attackers could leverage this weakness to conduct data exfiltration, perform unauthorized modifications to document repositories, or establish persistent backdoors within the enterprise content management infrastructure. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the FileNet P8 system, potentially affecting compliance with industry regulations and data protection requirements.
Organizations affected by CVE-2010-3471 should immediately implement the vendor-provided patch P8AE-FP007 which addresses the session fixation issue through proper session regeneration mechanisms. System administrators should also implement additional security controls including monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns, implementing secure session management practices, and conducting regular security assessments of the FileNet P8 environment. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of session hijacking attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper session management in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.003, which covers legitimate credentials and session hijacking. Organizations should also consider implementing session timeout mechanisms, secure cookie attributes, and regular security training for administrators to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other components of their FileNet P8 deployment.