CVE-2014-6028 in TorrentFlux
Summary
by MITRE
TorrentFlux 2.4 allows remote authenticated users to obtain other users cookies via the cid parameter in an editCookies action to profile.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6028 resides within TorrentFlux version 2.4, a popular open-source bittorrent client management system. This security flaw represents a critical authorization bypass issue that allows authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges and access sensitive session data belonging to other users within the system. The vulnerability specifically manifests through improper input validation and session management practices within the profile.php script, which processes user profile modifications. The affected parameter cid in the editCookies action creates an avenue for unauthorized cookie access, fundamentally undermining the application's user isolation mechanisms and session security controls.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a parameter injection attack vector where an authenticated user can manipulate the cid parameter to retrieve session cookies from other users. This flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization and insufficient access control verification within the application's authentication framework. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and specifically relates to CWE-352, covering cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities that can be leveraged to manipulate session data. The attack requires minimal privileges since the user only needs valid authentication credentials to the system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by any legitimate user with access to the profile management interface.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates significant security implications for organizations relying on TorrentFlux for their bittorrent operations. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw can impersonate other users, potentially gaining access to their personal data, download histories, and other sensitive information stored within the application. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as the compromised session cookies could enable full account takeover, allowing attackers to perform administrative functions, modify user configurations, or access restricted resources. This vulnerability particularly affects collaborative environments where multiple users share the same TorrentFlux instance, as the compromise of one user's session can cascade into broader system infiltration. The attack vector is relatively straightforward to execute, making it a prime target for automated exploitation tools and increasing the overall risk exposure for affected deployments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-6028 should focus on implementing robust input validation and access control mechanisms within the profile.php script. The primary fix involves adding proper parameter validation to ensure that the cid parameter cannot be manipulated to access unauthorized session data. Security patches should enforce strict session isolation, ensuring that each user can only access their own session information regardless of their authentication status. Organizations should also implement proper logging and monitoring of profile modification activities to detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, the application should be updated to version 2.5 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through improved input sanitization and access control enforcement. The remediation process should include comprehensive security testing to verify that session management has been properly hardened against similar vulnerabilities, aligning with the principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks for session management and authentication security.