CVE-2014-8775 in Revolution
Summary
by MITRE
MODX Revolution 2.x before 2.2.15 does not include the HTTPOnly flag in a Set-Cookie header for the session 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 • 02/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8775 affects MODX Revolution 2.x versions prior to 2.2.15 and represents a critical security flaw in session management implementation. This weakness stems from the absence of the HTTPOnly flag in session cookie headers, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems. The vulnerability directly impacts web application security by weakening the protection mechanisms that should prevent client-side script access to sensitive authentication tokens.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper configuration of session cookies where the HTTPOnly flag is omitted from the Set-Cookie header. This flag serves as a crucial security mechanism that prevents client-side scripts from accessing cookie values through JavaScript APIs such as document.cookie. Without this protection, malicious scripts running in the victim's browser can directly read session cookies and exfiltrate them to attacker-controlled servers. The vulnerability falls under CWE-1004 which specifically addresses the lack of HTTPOnly flag implementation in session management, making it a well-documented weakness in web application security practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a pathway for session hijacking attacks that can lead to complete system compromise. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness through cross-site scripting attacks or other means to inject malicious scripts that access the vulnerable session cookies. Once obtained, these cookies can be used to impersonate legitimate users and access protected resources, potentially leading to data breaches, privilege escalation, and unauthorized administrative access to the MODX content management system. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential harvesting through various means including web application attacks.
Organizations running affected MODX versions face significant security risks as this vulnerability can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges or complex attack vectors. The remediation process involves updating to MODX Revolution 2.2.15 or later versions where the HTTPOnly flag is properly implemented in session cookie headers. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other applications or systems that may be similarly vulnerable to the same class of weakness. Additional mitigations include implementing proper input validation, regular security audits, and ensuring all session management components adhere to established security best practices including the mandatory use of HTTPOnly flags, secure flags, and proper cookie attributes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future.