CVE-2014-0482 in Django
Summary
by MITRE
The contrib.auth.middleware.RemoteUserMiddleware middleware in Django before 1.4.14, 1.5.x before 1.5.9, 1.6.x before 1.6.6, and 1.7 before release candidate 3, when using the contrib.auth.backends.RemoteUserBackend backend, allows remote authenticated users to hijack web sessions via vectors related to the REMOTE_USER header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0482 represents a critical session hijacking flaw within the Django web framework's authentication middleware system. This issue affects multiple versions of Django including 1.4.x before 1.4.14, 1.5.x before 1.5.9, 1.6.x before 1.6.6, and pre-release versions of 1.7. The vulnerability specifically targets the contrib.auth.middleware.RemoteUserMiddleware component when paired with the contrib.auth.backends.RemoteUserBackend authentication backend. This flaw enables malicious actors to exploit the REMOTE_USER HTTP header to assume the identity of legitimate authenticated users within the application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of the REMOTE_USER header value within the authentication flow. When Django's RemoteUserMiddleware processes incoming requests, it relies on the REMOTE_USER header to establish user identity without sufficient verification mechanisms. The middleware accepts the header value directly and uses it to authenticate users, creating an environment where an attacker can manipulate this header to impersonate any valid user account. This occurs because the system does not validate whether the user name provided in the REMOTE_USER header corresponds to an actual user in the system's database, nor does it verify that the user has legitimate access rights. The flaw essentially allows any authenticated user to manipulate their session by simply modifying the REMOTE_USER header value in their HTTP requests, bypassing normal authentication controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables complete session takeover capabilities that can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data and system resources. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain access to user accounts, potentially accessing personal information, financial data, or administrative functions depending on the application's design and user permissions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited without requiring knowledge of user credentials, passwords, or other authentication factors, making it a significant concern for applications that rely on external authentication systems such as single sign-on solutions, LDAP integration, or other identity providers that populate the REMOTE_USER header. This type of attack falls under the attack technique category of credential access and session hijacking, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1563.002 for remote service session hijacking.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Django versions to the latest secure releases, with version 1.4.14, 1.5.9, 1.6.6, or the appropriate release candidate for 1.7. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including validating the REMOTE_USER header values against known user accounts in the system database, implementing proper input sanitization, and monitoring for suspicious header modifications. The fix typically involves modifying the RemoteUserMiddleware to validate that the user name provided in the REMOTE_USER header actually exists in the system before establishing a session, thereby preventing unauthorized identity impersonation. Security teams should also consider implementing additional authentication layers such as multi-factor authentication and monitoring for unusual authentication patterns that could indicate session hijacking attempts. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a critical weakness in the authentication process that could lead to complete system compromise if not addressed promptly.