CVE-2011-3133 in Spotfire Server
Summary
by MITRE
Session fixation vulnerability in TIBCO Spotfire Server 3.0.x before 3.0.2, 3.1.x before 3.1.2, 3.2.x before 3.2.1, and 3.3.x before 3.3.1, and Spotfire Analytics Server before 10.1.1, allows remote attackers to hijack web sessions via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3133 represents a critical session fixation flaw affecting multiple versions of TIBCO Spotfire Server and Analytics Server products. This security weakness stems from the improper handling of web session identifiers during authentication processes, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit the system's session management mechanisms. The vulnerability affects a broad range of product versions including Spotfire Server 3.0.x through 3.3.x and Analytics Server prior to specific patch releases, highlighting the widespread nature of this session management deficiency.
Session fixation vulnerabilities occur when an application fails to properly invalidate or regenerate session identifiers upon successful authentication, allowing attackers to maintain persistent access to user sessions. In the context of TIBCO Spotfire Server, this flaw enables remote attackers to hijack web sessions through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulating session tokens or identifiers during the authentication workflow. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-384 as a Session Fixation issue, which directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1563.002 for Obtain Capabilities. The technical implementation appears to involve the server's failure to properly establish new session identifiers after user authentication, potentially allowing attackers to reuse session tokens obtained through various means such as cross-site scripting attacks or man-in-the-middle interception.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain persistent access to sensitive analytical data and business intelligence systems. Organizations utilizing these versions of Spotfire Server face significant risk of data compromise, particularly in environments where the platform processes confidential business information, financial data, or proprietary analytics. The remote nature of the attack vector means that exploitation can occur from any network location without requiring physical access to the target system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where network segmentation may not fully protect these applications. Attackers could potentially access dashboards, reports, and underlying data sources that contain sensitive organizational information, leading to potential intellectual property theft, financial fraud, or competitive disadvantage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3133 should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions to the recommended secure releases including Spotfire Server 3.0.2, 3.1.2, 3.2.1, 3.3.1, and Analytics Server 10.1.1. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as enforcing secure session management practices, implementing proper session timeout mechanisms, and ensuring that session identifiers are regenerated upon successful authentication. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while regular security assessments should verify that session management configurations are properly implemented. The vulnerability's classification as CWE-384 underscores the need for comprehensive session management policies that align with industry best practices for web application security. Security teams should also conduct thorough testing to ensure that patched versions properly handle session identifiers and that no residual vulnerabilities remain in custom configurations or third-party integrations that may interact with the affected Spotfire components.