CVE-2013-7464 in csrf-magic
Summary
by MITRE
In csrf-magic before 1.0.4, if $GLOBALS['csrf']['secret'] is not configured, the Anti-CSRF Token used is predictable and would permit an attacker to bypass the CSRF protections, because an automatically generated secret is not used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-7464 affects the csrf-magic library version 1.0.3 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in Cross-Site Request Forgery protection mechanisms. This issue stems from improper configuration handling within the library's automatic secret generation process, creating a scenario where attackers can predict or determine the Anti-CSRF tokens used by the application. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the $GLOBALS['csrf']['secret'] configuration parameter remains unconfigured, leading to the use of a predictable default value that undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the CSRF protection system.
The technical flaw resides in the library's failure to enforce proper secret generation when no explicit secret is provided by the application developer. According to CWE-310, this represents a weakness in cryptographic key generation where predictable values are used instead of cryptographically secure random numbers. The implementation uses a default secret that can be easily determined through analysis of the library's source code or by observing patterns in token generation, effectively nullifying the CSRF protection mechanism. This predictable token generation creates a direct pathway for attackers to craft malicious requests that bypass the security checks, as they can anticipate the token values required for successful exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it completely undermines the CSRF protection that web applications rely upon to prevent unauthorized actions. An attacker can leverage this flaw to perform authenticated actions on behalf of legitimate users without requiring knowledge of their credentials or session tokens. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering attacks that manipulate users into performing actions that compromise security. The exploitability of this issue means that any web application using csrf-magic version 1.0.3 or earlier without proper secret configuration becomes vulnerable to CSRF attacks that could result in account takeovers, data manipulation, or unauthorized transactions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to configure the csrf-magic library properly. Organizations must ensure that the $GLOBALS['csrf']['secret'] parameter is explicitly set to a cryptographically secure random value that is unique for each application instance. This configuration should be implemented during the application setup phase, with the secret value stored securely and not hardcoded in source files. The library should be upgraded to version 1.0.4 or later, where proper secret generation mechanisms have been implemented. Additionally, security audits should verify that all applications using csrf-magic have appropriate secret configurations, and developers should follow secure coding practices that include proper input validation and configuration management. The fix addresses the underlying CWE-310 weakness by ensuring that cryptographic keys are generated using secure random number generation techniques, preventing attackers from predicting or deriving the necessary tokens for successful CSRF attacks.