CVE-2014-1219 in 2E Web Option
Summary
by MITRE
CA 2E Web Option r8.1.2 accepts a predictable substring of a W2E_SSNID session token in place of the entire token, which allows remote attackers to hijack sessions by changing characters at the end of this substring, as demonstrated by terminating a session via a modified SSNID parameter to web2edoc/close.htm.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1219 affects CA 2E Web Option version r8.1.2, representing a critical session management flaw that undermines the security of web applications utilizing this software. This issue stems from the improper handling of session tokens, specifically the W2E_SSNID parameter, which should function as a complete and unpredictable session identifier but instead accepts partial token values. The vulnerability exposes a fundamental weakness in the authentication and session validation mechanisms, creating a pathway for unauthorized access and session manipulation.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's session token validation process where the system accepts a predictable substring of the W2E_SSNID session token rather than requiring the complete token for authentication. This design flaw allows attackers to manipulate session identifiers by modifying characters at the end of the partial token, effectively enabling session hijacking attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the core of session management, where the integrity and unpredictability of session tokens are paramount for maintaining user authentication state. The specific attack vector involves modifying the SSNID parameter in requests to web2edoc/close.htm, demonstrating how an attacker can terminate legitimate user sessions or assume control of existing ones.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking to encompass potential data breaches, unauthorized system access, and disruption of legitimate business operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness to impersonate legitimate users, access restricted resources, modify or delete sensitive data, and potentially escalate privileges within the affected system. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the web application, as session termination can be used as a denial-of-service mechanism while session takeover enables unauthorized access. This weakness particularly impacts organizations relying on CA 2E Web Option for document management and web-based applications, where session security is crucial for protecting sensitive business and user information.
Security practitioners should address this vulnerability through immediate patching of the affected CA 2E Web Option version, implementing proper session token generation with sufficient entropy, and ensuring complete token validation rather than partial acceptance. The mitigation strategy must include strengthening session management protocols, implementing proper random number generation for session identifiers, and conducting comprehensive security testing of authentication mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as session timeout mechanisms, IP address binding, and multi-factor authentication to reduce the attack surface. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-307, which addresses improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1548.002 for privilege escalation through session hijacking, emphasizing the need for robust session management practices across all web applications to prevent unauthorized access and maintain system integrity.