CVE-2014-9250 in Zenoss
Summary
by MITRE
Zenoss Core through 5 Beta 3 does not include the HTTPOnly flag in a Set-Cookie header for the authentication cookie, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain credential information via script access to this cookie, aka ZEN-10418.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9250 affects Zenoss Core versions through 5 Beta 3 and represents a critical security flaw in the web application's session management implementation. This issue stems from the absence of the HTTPOnly flag in the Set-Cookie header that is generated during the authentication process, creating a significant vector for credential theft through cross-site scripting attacks. The vulnerability was categorized as ZEN-10418 within the Zenoss security tracking system, indicating its recognition as a legitimate security concern within the product's development lifecycle.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper configuration of session cookies that are used for user authentication within the Zenoss Core web interface. When a user successfully authenticates to the system, the application generates an authentication cookie that should be protected against client-side script access. The HTTPOnly flag serves as a critical security mechanism that prevents JavaScript running in the browser from accessing the cookie value, thereby mitigating the risk of session hijacking through XSS attacks. Without this flag, the authentication cookie becomes accessible to malicious scripts executed within the same domain, making it vulnerable to theft by attackers who can leverage various XSS exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it fundamentally compromises the authentication security model of the Zenoss Core application. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by first executing a cross-site scripting attack against the vulnerable application, which then allows them to access the authentication cookie through JavaScript. Once obtained, this cookie can be used to impersonate authenticated users and gain unauthorized access to the Zenoss monitoring and management interface. The implications are particularly severe given that Zenoss Core is designed for enterprise network monitoring and management, where compromised credentials could lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to critical infrastructure monitoring data.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-1004 which describes the weakness of insufficient protection against cross-site scripting attacks, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 related to Spearphishing Attachments, as attackers can leverage XSS to obtain session cookies. The lack of HTTPOnly flag implementation also violates security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten 2017 category A03:2017 - Sensitive Data Exposure, and represents a failure to implement proper cookie security attributes. Organizations using affected versions of Zenoss Core face significant risk of unauthorized access to their monitoring infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate monitoring data, disable alerts, or gain access to sensitive network information that the system is designed to protect.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of the HTTPOnly flag on all authentication cookies generated by the Zenoss Core application. System administrators should upgrade to patched versions of Zenoss Core that properly implement this security measure, as the vulnerability cannot be effectively addressed through network-level controls or configuration changes alone. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify and remediate other potential XSS vulnerabilities within the application, while implementing proper input validation and output encoding to prevent malicious script injection. The fix should also include regular security testing of the web application to ensure that similar cookie security issues do not emerge in future releases, maintaining compliance with security standards and best practices.