CVE-2010-5148 in Web Security
Summary
by MITRE
Websense Web Security and Web Filter before 7.1 Hotfix 21 do not set the secure flag for the Encrypted Session (SSL) cookie in an https session, which makes it easier for remote attackers to capture this cookie by intercepting its transmission within an http session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-5148 affects Websense Web Security and Web Filter versions prior to 7.1 Hotfix 21, representing a critical security flaw in cookie handling mechanisms that undermines the integrity of secure communications. This issue stems from the improper configuration of session management within the web filtering infrastructure, where the secure flag is not properly set for the Encrypted Session cookie during https sessions. The secure flag serves as a critical HTTP cookie attribute that instructs web browsers to only transmit the cookie over secure HTTPS connections, thereby preventing interception during transmission over unencrypted HTTP channels.
The technical implementation flaw manifests when the system fails to enforce proper cookie security attributes, creating an attack surface that allows malicious actors to capture session cookies through man-in-the-middle attacks or network eavesdropping techniques. This vulnerability directly violates security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with CWE-614, which specifically addresses the insecure handling of cookies with the secure flag. The flaw enables attackers to exploit the lack of proper session isolation between http and https contexts, potentially allowing them to hijack user sessions and gain unauthorized access to protected web resources.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability significantly weakens the security posture of organizations relying on Websense for web filtering and content control. The compromised session management creates opportunities for credential theft, session hijacking, and unauthorized access to corporate web applications and resources. Attackers can intercept the unsecured session cookie during transmission and use it to impersonate legitimate users, potentially gaining access to sensitive data, internal systems, and privileged information within the organization's network. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where users access both http and https resources, as the insecure cookie transmission creates persistent attack vectors.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2010-5148 requires immediate implementation of the available Websense 7.1 Hotfix 21 patch, which properly configures the secure flag for session cookies. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any other applications or systems that may exhibit similar cookie handling vulnerabilities. Network administrators should implement additional monitoring and detection mechanisms to identify potential cookie interception attempts. The remediation process aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through credential dumping and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage, as the vulnerability enables attackers to leverage intercepted session data for further exploitation. Security teams should also consider implementing additional network segmentation and encryption controls to reduce the attack surface and prevent lateral movement through compromised session data, ensuring compliance with security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for secure session management and data protection.