CVE-2011-0696 in Django
Summary
by MITRE
Django 1.1.x before 1.1.4 and 1.2.x before 1.2.5 does not properly validate HTTP requests that contain an X-Requested-With header, which makes it easier for remote attackers to conduct cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks via forged AJAX requests that leverage a "combination of browser plugins and redirects," a related issue to CVE-2011-0447.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-0696 affects Django web applications running versions 1.1.x before 1.1.4 and 1.2.x before 1.2.5, representing a significant security flaw in the framework's cross-site request forgery protection mechanisms. This issue stems from Django's insufficient validation of HTTP requests containing the X-Requested-With header, which is commonly used by AJAX frameworks to identify XMLHttpRequests. The flaw creates a pathway for attackers to bypass CSRF protection measures that should normally prevent malicious requests from being executed on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically relates to how Django handles the X-Requested-With header in conjunction with browser plugin behavior and redirect mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous in certain exploitation scenarios.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in Django's CSRF middleware implementation, which fails to properly validate the presence and authenticity of the X-Requested-With header when determining whether a request should be subject to CSRF protection. This header is typically set by JavaScript libraries like jQuery and other AJAX frameworks to indicate that a request was initiated through an XMLHttpRequest. When Django encounters this header, it should verify that the request originated from a legitimate AJAX source rather than a maliciously crafted forged request. However, the vulnerable versions of Django do not perform this validation correctly, allowing attackers to construct forged requests that appear to be legitimate AJAX calls. This behavior aligns with CWE-352, which describes Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities where insufficient validation of request origins permits unauthorized actions to be performed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, as it enables remote attackers to conduct CSRF attacks that can be particularly effective in specific browser configurations. The attack vector leverages a combination of browser plugins and redirect mechanisms, which means that attackers can craft malicious requests that exploit the interaction between different browser components to bypass security checks. This makes the vulnerability more difficult to detect and prevent compared to traditional CSRF attacks, as it requires a more sophisticated understanding of how browser behavior interacts with web application security controls. The vulnerability specifically affects Django applications that rely on AJAX functionality, making it particularly concerning for modern web applications that heavily depend on asynchronous requests. The related vulnerability CVE-2011-0447 highlights similar issues in the same timeframe, indicating a pattern of CSRF protection weaknesses in Django's implementation.
Security professionals should prioritize upgrading affected Django installations to versions 1.1.4 or 1.2.5, which contain the necessary patches to properly validate the X-Requested-With header. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious request patterns that might indicate CSRF attack attempts, particularly those involving the X-Requested-With header. The recommended mitigation strategies include ensuring that all Django applications implement proper CSRF protection mechanisms, including the use of CSRF tokens in forms and AJAX requests, and regularly updating framework components to address known vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current security practices and the potential consequences of inadequate request validation in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive user data or performing privileged operations. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security layers such as Content Security Policy headers and proper input validation to further protect against similar attack vectors.