CVE-2011-0400 in Piwik
Summary
by MITRE
Cookie.php in Piwik before 1.1 does not set the secure flag for the session 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 • 10/11/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-0400 affects Piwik analytics software versions prior to 1.1, specifically within the cookie.php component that manages session cookies. This flaw represents a critical security oversight in how session management is implemented, creating a pathway for attackers to compromise user sessions through man-in-the-middle attacks. The vulnerability manifests when users access Piwik over HTTPS connections, where the session cookie should be protected with the secure flag to prevent transmission over unencrypted channels.
The technical flaw stems from the improper configuration of session cookies in the cookie.php file, which fails to set the secure flag even when the application is operating within an HTTPS session. This omission allows the session cookie to be transmitted over both HTTP and HTTPS connections, making it vulnerable to interception during transmission. The secure flag is a fundamental security mechanism that instructs web browsers to only transmit cookies over encrypted connections, preventing attackers from capturing sensitive session information through network sniffing or other interception techniques. Without this flag, the session cookie becomes susceptible to capture when users navigate between HTTP and HTTPS contexts or when attackers can intercept network traffic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it creates an attack surface that allows remote adversaries to capture session cookies and potentially impersonate legitimate users. When attackers intercept the unflagged session cookie, they can use it to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, potentially leading to data breaches, privilege escalation, and unauthorized access to analytics data. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using Piwik for web analytics where sensitive business information might be accessible through the analytics platform, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit session hijacking techniques.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-311, which describes the lack of sensitive data protection in situations where data should be encrypted during transmission. The flaw also relates to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through phishing and social engineering, as compromised session cookies effectively provide attackers with valid credentials to access systems. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in secure coding practices and proper session management implementation, where basic security controls are omitted from critical components of the application. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Piwik version 1.1 or later, ensuring all session cookies are properly configured with the secure flag, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, network administrators should implement proper SSL/TLS configurations and consider deploying additional security controls such as HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) to prevent downgrade attacks and ensure consistent secure communication across all application components.