CVE-2014-3613 in cURL
Summary
by MITRE
cURL and libcurl before 7.38.0 does not properly handle IP addresses in cookie domain names, which allows remote attackers to set cookies for or send arbitrary cookies to certain sites, as demonstrated by a site at 192.168.0.1 setting cookies for a site at 127.168.0.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3613 represents a critical cookie handling flaw in cURL and libcurl versions prior to 7.38.0 that fundamentally undermines web application security through improper IP address validation in cookie domain attributes. This issue stems from the software's failure to correctly process and validate IP address formats within cookie domain specifications, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate cookie storage and transmission across network boundaries.
The technical flaw manifests when cURL processes cookies that contain IP addresses in their domain attributes, specifically failing to properly validate whether these IP addresses are valid or appropriately formatted. This improper handling allows attackers to craft cookie domain specifications that bypass normal security boundaries, enabling them to set cookies for one IP address range while those cookies are actually stored or sent to a different IP address range. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited to manipulate cookie behavior across different network segments, such as allowing a cookie set for an internal IP address like 192.168.0.1 to be interpreted as valid for a different internal address like 127.168.0.1.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and specifically relates to improper validation of input data within the context of network security protocols. The operational impact of this flaw extends beyond simple cookie manipulation to encompass potential session hijacking, cross-site request forgery attacks, and unauthorized data access. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to protected resources, manipulate user sessions, or bypass authentication mechanisms that rely on cookie-based security models. The vulnerability affects the core HTTP client functionality of cURL, which is widely used across numerous applications and systems, amplifying its potential impact significantly.
The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly severe when considering how modern web applications depend on proper cookie handling for maintaining session state and user authentication. When an application uses cURL or libcurl for HTTP requests, any maliciously crafted cookie domain specification can cause the software to incorrectly process cookies, potentially allowing attackers to inject cookies into systems they shouldn't have access to. This creates a persistent security risk that can be exploited across multiple applications and services that rely on the vulnerable cURL library. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through social engineering and network manipulation, as it enables attackers to manipulate session data and potentially gain unauthorized access to user accounts. Organizations using vulnerable versions of cURL should immediately implement patches to address this issue, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring user interaction and can persist across multiple sessions. The fix implemented in cURL 7.38.0 involved strengthening input validation for cookie domain attributes and ensuring proper handling of IP address formats to prevent cross-segment cookie manipulation.