CVE-2011-0698 in Django
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Django 1.1.x before 1.1.4 and 1.2.x before 1.2.5 on Windows might allow remote attackers to read or execute files via a / (slash) character in a key in a session cookie, related to session replays.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0698 represents a directory traversal flaw affecting Django web applications running on Windows platforms. This security weakness specifically impacts Django versions 1.1.x prior to 1.1.4 and 1.2.x prior to 1.2.5, creating a significant risk for applications that utilize session cookies for user authentication and state management. The flaw manifests when a malicious actor crafts a specially formatted session cookie containing a forward slash character in a key field, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability stems from how Django handles session data on Windows systems where the backslash character serves as the directory separator. When session cookies contain forward slashes in their keys, the application's session handling mechanism incorrectly interprets these characters, leading to improper path resolution. This misinterpretation allows attackers to traverse the file system by manipulating session cookie values, potentially accessing files outside the intended application directory structure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the session management layer, which typically handles sensitive user data and authentication state.
The operational impact of this directory traversal vulnerability extends beyond simple file reading capabilities to encompass potential remote code execution scenarios. Attackers can leverage this flaw to access configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and other sensitive data stored on the server. The session replay aspect mentioned in the vulnerability description indicates that the issue enables not only data reading but also the possibility of manipulating session state to gain unauthorized access to user accounts or escalate privileges within the application. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as part of the broader ATT&CK framework's technique T1566, which involves the exploitation of vulnerabilities in remote services to gain initial access. The Windows-specific nature of this issue means that organizations running Django applications on Windows servers face the highest risk, particularly those with session-based authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly innocuous character handling in web frameworks can create significant security implications when combined with platform-specific path resolution behaviors.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to patched Django versions 1.1.4 or 1.2.5, respectively. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as cookie security flags, secure session management practices, and network-level protections to limit exposure. The remediation process should include thorough code review of session handling mechanisms and implementation of proper input validation for all cookie data. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar path traversal issues in other components of the application stack, as this vulnerability type remains prevalent across various web frameworks and platforms.