CVE-2013-0529 in Sterling Connect Direct User Interface
Summary
by MITRE
The Browser in IBM Sterling Connect:Direct 1.4 before 1.4.0.11 and 1.5 through 1.5.0.1 does not set the secure flag for the session cookie in an https session, which makes it easier for remote attackers to capture this cookie by intercepting its transmission within an http session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-0529 affects IBM Sterling Connect:Direct versions 1.4 before 1.4.0.11 and 1.5 through 1.5.0.1, specifically within the browser component that handles session management. This flaw represents a critical security oversight in the implementation of secure communication protocols where sensitive session data is transmitted over potentially insecure channels. The vulnerability stems from improper cookie configuration that fails to enforce the secure flag mechanism essential for protecting session tokens in encrypted environments.
The technical flaw manifests when the browser component fails to set the secure flag on session cookies even during https sessions, creating a dangerous condition where session identifiers can be transmitted in plain text over http connections. This misconfiguration allows attackers to intercept session cookies through man-in-the-middle attacks or network sniffing operations, effectively compromising user authentication and authorization mechanisms. The secure flag is a fundamental web security feature that instructs browsers to only transmit cookies over encrypted connections, preventing cookie theft through unencrypted network traffic interception.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes organizations using IBM Sterling Connect:Direct to significant risk of unauthorized access and data compromise. Attackers can leverage this weakness to hijack user sessions, gain unauthorized access to sensitive business data, and potentially escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to capture session cookies during http transmission even when the user believes they are operating within a secure https session, creating a false sense of security among legitimate users.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-614, which specifically addresses the issue of sensitive cookies transmitted over unencrypted connections, and demonstrates clear alignment with ATT&CK technique T1566 related to credential access through network sniffing and interception attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched versions of IBM Sterling Connect:Direct, ensuring proper cookie configuration with secure flag enforcement, and implementing additional network security controls such as mandatory https enforcement and network segmentation. The secure flag implementation should be verified through security testing and monitoring to ensure that session cookies are only transmitted over encrypted channels, preventing the exploitation of this vulnerability through interception-based attack vectors.