CVE-2011-1068 in Windows Azure Sdk
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Windows Azure Software Development Kit (SDK) 1.3.x before 1.3.20121.1237, when Full IIS and a Web Role are used with an ASP.NET application, does not properly support the use of cookies for maintaining state, which allows remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information by reading an encrypted cookie and performing unspecified other steps.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-1068 affects Microsoft Windows Azure Software Development Kit versions 1.3.x prior to 1.3.20121.1237, specifically when deployed in environments utilizing Full IIS with Web Roles and ASP.NET applications. This issue represents a significant security flaw in the Azure SDK's handling of state management through cookies, creating potential pathways for information disclosure attacks. The vulnerability manifests when the SDK fails to properly implement cookie encryption and validation mechanisms, allowing attackers to potentially extract sensitive data from encrypted cookie values. The flaw is particularly concerning in cloud computing environments where state persistence is critical for application functionality and user session management.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper implementation of cookie handling within the Azure SDK's integration with Full IIS environments. When ASP.NET applications are deployed using Web Roles, the SDK should properly encrypt and validate cookies to maintain session state securely. However, the affected versions fail to adequately protect cookie contents, enabling attackers to decrypt or manipulate cookie values to extract sensitive information. This weakness aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues including improper encryption and key management. The vulnerability specifically impacts the cookie management layer where session state is maintained, creating a potential attack surface that could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to user sessions or application data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could enable attackers to perform session hijacking attacks or extract sensitive user data from encrypted cookie values. In cloud environments where multiple users interact with applications through shared infrastructure, this flaw could allow unauthorized parties to impersonate legitimate users or access confidential information. The unspecified nature of the "other steps" mentioned in the vulnerability description suggests that attackers might be able to leverage the initial cookie reading capability to perform additional malicious actions, potentially including privilege escalation or further system compromise. This vulnerability directly impacts the security posture of applications deployed in Azure environments and could lead to data breaches or unauthorized access incidents.
Organizations utilizing affected Azure SDK versions should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to SDK version 1.3.20121.1237 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper cookie handling and encryption. Security administrators should also review their current Azure deployments for any instances of the vulnerable SDK versions and ensure that all Web Role applications properly implement secure cookie management practices. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish proper access controls to limit the potential impact of credential theft or session hijacking. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the updated SDK versions do not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications while maintaining proper session state management. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in cloud computing environments and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential access through various means including session hijacking and cookie manipulation.