CVE-2013-10075 in Apache::Session
Summary
by MITRE • 05/08/2026
Apache::Session versions through 1.94 for Perl re-creates deleted sessions.
The session stores Apache::Session::Store::File and Apache::Session::Store::DB_File will create a session that does not exist. This can lead to sessions being revived, potentially with data that was to be deleted.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2026
This vulnerability in Apache::Session versions through 1.94 represents a critical session management flaw that directly impacts application security and user privacy. The issue stems from how the session storage mechanisms handle session deletion operations, specifically with the Apache::Session::Store::File and Apache::Session::Store::DB_File modules. When a session is marked for deletion, the system fails to properly remove all associated data and instead recreates the session with potentially stale or sensitive information that was intended to be permanently removed. This behavior creates a persistent security risk where deleted session data remains accessible to unauthorized parties.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the session store modules' inability to properly manage the session lifecycle, particularly during deletion and recreation phases. When a session deletion request is processed, the underlying storage systems do not perform complete data sanitization or removal operations, allowing for session revival with residual data. This creates a scenario where attackers or compromised applications could potentially access session information that should have been permanently deleted, undermining the fundamental security assumptions of session management. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and affects any system relying on Perl-based session management with these specific store modules.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential privilege escalation and persistent access violations. Attackers could exploit this flaw to access session data from previously deleted accounts, potentially gaining unauthorized access to user resources or maintaining access to compromised accounts. The vulnerability also affects audit and compliance requirements, as session cleanup operations fail to properly sanitize data, creating false positives in security monitoring systems. Organizations using affected Apache::Session versions face risks of data leakage, unauthorized access, and potential regulatory violations in environments where session data contains sensitive user information or business-critical data.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected Apache::Session versions to 1.95 or later, where the session deletion and recreation logic has been properly addressed. System administrators should implement additional monitoring for session deletion operations to detect anomalous behavior and establish proper session lifecycle management policies. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) categories, while also mapping to ATT&CK techniques such as T1566 (Phishing) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) where compromised session data could facilitate further attacks. Organizations should conduct comprehensive audits of their session management implementations, particularly focusing on the file-based and database-based session stores, and implement additional security controls to prevent session data resurrection. Security teams should also consider implementing session data encryption and regular session cleanup verification processes to minimize the impact of similar vulnerabilities in other components of their session management infrastructure.