CVE-2014-0174 in Enterprise MRG
Summary
by MITRE
Cumin (aka MRG Management Console), as used in Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2.5, does not include the HTTPOnly flag in a Set-Cookie header for the session cookie, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information via script access to this cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0174 affects Cumin, also known as MRG Management Console, which is part of Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2.5. This security flaw resides in the session management implementation of the web application interface that governs the messaging and real-time grid infrastructure. The issue manifests specifically within the HTTP response headers where session cookies are transmitted to client browsers. The absence of the HTTPOnly flag in the Set-Cookie header represents a significant oversight in web application security practices that directly impacts the protection of session identifiers.
The technical flaw stems from the improper configuration of session cookies that are sent to user agents during authentication processes. When a web application fails to implement the HTTPOnly flag on session cookies, it creates an exploitable condition where malicious scripts running in the victim's browser can access the cookie content through JavaScript APIs such as document.cookie. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-1004 which addresses the lack of proper security measures in cookie configuration, specifically focusing on the absence of security attributes that prevent client-side script access to sensitive session data. The flaw represents a classic cross-site scripting (XSS) vector that can be exploited by attackers who have already compromised a victim's browser through social engineering, phishing, or other means of script injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as session hijacking becomes significantly more feasible for attackers. When an attacker successfully executes a cross-site scripting attack against a user of the MRG Management Console, they can extract the session cookie and use it to impersonate the legitimate user. This compromises the authentication mechanism and potentially grants unauthorized access to the entire messaging grid management interface. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a management console that likely provides administrative privileges and access to critical infrastructure components. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which describes the use of credentials from password databases to gain unauthorized access to systems, as session cookies essentially function as temporary credentials that can be stolen and reused.
The security implications of this vulnerability are exacerbated by the fact that Cumin serves as a management interface for Red Hat Enterprise MRG, which is designed for high-performance messaging and real-time data processing environments. Attackers who exploit this weakness could potentially disrupt critical messaging services, access sensitive operational data, or even manipulate the underlying messaging infrastructure. The HTTPOnly flag serves as a crucial defense-in-depth mechanism that prevents JavaScript-based attacks from accessing session tokens, making it a fundamental security control that should be implemented across all web applications handling authentication. Organizations using this software are particularly vulnerable because the flaw exists at the application layer in the cookie management configuration, requiring minimal effort from attackers to exploit once they have achieved initial script execution capabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and the critical need for comprehensive security testing that includes cookie security attribute validation.