CVE-2011-3424 in Managed File Transfer Internet Server
Summary
by MITRE
Session fixation vulnerability in the Managed File Transfer server in TIBCO Managed File Transfer Internet Server before 7.1.1 and Managed File Transfer Command Center before 7.1.1, and the server in TIBCO Slingshot before 1.8.1, allows remote attackers to hijack web sessions via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2018
The CVE-2011-3424 vulnerability represents a critical session fixation flaw affecting TIBCO's Managed File Transfer suite, specifically targeting the web-based administrative interfaces of their MFT server and Command Center components. This vulnerability resides in the authentication and session management mechanisms of these enterprise file transfer solutions, which are widely deployed in financial services, healthcare, and government sectors for secure data exchange. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate session identifiers and maintain persistent access to authenticated administrative interfaces, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on these platforms for mission-critical file transfers. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of TIBCO's products including MFT Internet Server versions prior to 7.1.1, Command Center versions prior to 7.1.1, and Slingshot server versions prior to 1.8.1, indicating a widespread impact across TIBCO's enterprise file transfer ecosystem. The unspecified vectors suggest that attackers could exploit this through various means including manipulated cookies, URL parameters, or other session-related mechanisms that allow session tokens to be reused or predicted.
From a technical perspective, session fixation vulnerabilities occur when a web application fails to properly invalidate session identifiers upon successful authentication, allowing an attacker to establish a session with a known session ID and then hijack that session once a legitimate user authenticates. This particular vulnerability in TIBCO's MFT products demonstrates poor session management practices where the system does not adequately separate or reset session identifiers during the authentication process. The flaw likely stems from inadequate session handling code that does not implement proper session regeneration after user authentication, a fundamental security practice that aligns with CWE-384, which specifically addresses session fixation vulnerabilities. The technical implementation appears to allow attackers to either predict session tokens or reuse existing session identifiers, creating a persistent access vector that bypasses normal authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability directly contradicts established web application security best practices and represents a failure in the principle of least privilege, where unauthorized parties can maintain access to privileged administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to perform administrative actions on file transfer systems that control critical data flows within organizations. Attackers could manipulate file transfer schedules, modify transfer configurations, access sensitive file contents, and potentially disrupt business operations through malicious file transfer activities. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that use these systems for automated file transfers between trading partners, where unauthorized access could lead to data breaches, financial fraud, or compliance violations. The remote nature of the attack vector means that adversaries do not require physical access to the network or systems, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations with distributed or cloud-based deployments. Organizations using TIBCO MFT products may experience significant operational disruption if attackers exploit this vulnerability to modify transfer parameters, redirect file flows, or gain access to sensitive business data. The impact is amplified in environments where these systems manage critical financial transactions, healthcare records, or other regulated data that requires strict access controls and audit trails.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the vendor-provided patches and updates for TIBCO Managed File Transfer products, specifically upgrading to versions 7.1.1 or later for MFT Internet Server and Command Center, and 1.8.1 or later for Slingshot. Security teams should also implement network segmentation to limit access to MFT administrative interfaces, enforce strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication, and conduct thorough session management audits to identify any potential exploitation attempts. Monitoring for unusual authentication patterns or session activity in web server logs should be implemented as part of the incident response plan. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security assessments and patch management processes, particularly for enterprise software platforms that handle sensitive data transfers. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block potential exploitation attempts, and establish procedures for validating session management implementations in custom applications that interact with TIBCO systems. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which addresses credential harvesting through various attack vectors including session manipulation, and underscores the critical need for proper session handling in enterprise web applications.