CVE-2014-3852 in Pyplate
Summary
by MITRE
Pyplate 0.08 does not include the HTTPOnly flag in a Set-Cookie header for the id 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 • 03/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3852 affects Pyplate version 0.08, a web application framework that fails to implement proper cookie security measures. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's session management implementation, where the framework does not adequately protect session cookies from cross-site scripting attacks. The vulnerability specifically impacts the id cookie that is set during user authentication processes, creating an exploitable condition that could allow malicious actors to access sensitive session information.
The technical flaw manifests in the absence of the HTTPOnly flag within the Set-Cookie header for the id cookie. This flag serves as a crucial security mechanism that prevents client-side scripts from accessing cookie values, thereby mitigating the risk of cross-site scripting attacks. Without this flag, the cookie becomes accessible to JavaScript running on the same domain, making it vulnerable to theft through malicious scripts. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-1004, which describes insecure cookie attributes that can lead to session hijacking and credential theft.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a pathway for attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to user accounts. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can extract session identifiers from the id cookie and use them to impersonate legitimate users. This poses significant risks to user privacy and application security, particularly in environments where sensitive data is processed or stored. The vulnerability is classified as a medium severity issue in the context of the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, but its exploitation potential makes it highly concerning for production environments.
The attack vector for this vulnerability aligns with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1531 category, which focuses on credential access through web application vulnerabilities. Attackers typically leverage this weakness by injecting malicious scripts into web pages or exploiting existing XSS vulnerabilities to retrieve the session cookie values. The exploitation process involves creating a malicious payload that executes in the victim's browser context, allowing the attacker to access the cookie through JavaScript's document.cookie property. This type of attack demonstrates the importance of implementing proper input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS vulnerabilities that could be leveraged to exploit this specific cookie weakness.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations by updating their Pyplate installations to versions that properly implement the HTTPOnly flag for all session cookies. The recommended approach includes configuring the web application framework to automatically include the HTTPOnly flag in all Set-Cookie headers, ensuring that session identifiers remain protected from client-side script access. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their web applications to identify other cookies that may be missing the HTTPOnly flag and address these issues through code review processes. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection layers, while regular security testing should include verification that all session cookies properly implement security attributes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.