CVE-2011-0584 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE
Session fixation vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion 8.0 through 9.0.1 allows remote attackers to hijack web sessions via unspecified vectors.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2021
Adobe ColdFusion versions 8.0 through 9.0.1 contain a session fixation vulnerability that enables remote attackers to hijack web sessions through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability resides in the session management mechanisms of the ColdFusion application server and represents a critical security flaw that directly impacts the integrity of web application authentication processes. The session fixation vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly invalidate or regenerate session identifiers upon user authentication, allowing an attacker to establish a session with a known session identifier and subsequently hijack a user's authenticated session. This weakness aligns with CWE-384, which specifically addresses session fixation attacks where applications fail to properly handle session identifiers during authentication transitions. The vulnerability enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to user sessions without requiring valid credentials, fundamentally undermining the security model of web applications built on the ColdFusion platform.
The technical implementation of this session fixation flaw allows attackers to manipulate session tokens in ways that bypass normal authentication controls. When users authenticate to ColdFusion applications, the system should generate new session identifiers to prevent attackers from predicting or reusing session tokens. However, in vulnerable versions, session identifiers remain static or are not properly regenerated, creating opportunities for attackers to exploit the predictable nature of session management. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including but not limited to manipulation of session cookies, direct session token injection, or exploitation of weak session generation algorithms. The attack typically involves an attacker obtaining a valid session token from a victim, then using that token to impersonate the victim and gain access to protected resources within the application. The impact extends beyond simple session hijacking to potentially enable privilege escalation and unauthorized data access within the compromised application environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to compromise user sessions across multiple applications running on affected ColdFusion versions. Organizations utilizing these vulnerable systems face significant risks including unauthorized access to sensitive data, potential data breaches, and complete compromise of user authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security posture of ColdFusion applications and can result in widespread unauthorized access to web resources, particularly in environments where users have elevated privileges or access to confidential information. Security professionals must consider this vulnerability as part of broader application security assessments, as it can be leveraged in conjunction with other attack vectors to create more sophisticated compromise scenarios. The session fixation attack pattern is well-documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of credential access, specifically targeting session management weaknesses that enable unauthorized system access. Organizations may experience cascading security failures as attackers use session hijacking as a stepping stone to escalate privileges and access additional systems within their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of session management best practices and system updates. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to patched versions of Adobe ColdFusion as soon as possible, as Adobe has released security patches addressing this specific vulnerability. System administrators should implement proper session regeneration mechanisms that invalidate old session identifiers upon successful authentication and generate cryptographically strong session tokens. Additional protective measures include implementing secure session cookie attributes such as HttpOnly, Secure, and SameSite flags to prevent client-side session manipulation. Network security controls should monitor for unusual session behavior and implement session timeout mechanisms to minimize the window of opportunity for exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper session management in web applications and reinforces the need for regular security assessments and patch management processes. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security reviews of their ColdFusion applications to identify and remediate similar session management weaknesses that may exist in other parts of their application stack. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the fundamental security principles that must be implemented in all web application development and deployment processes to prevent unauthorized access and maintain the integrity of user authentication systems.