CVE-2015-3155 in Foreman
Summary
by MITRE
Foreman before 1.8.1 does not set the secure flag for the _session_id cookie in an https session, which makes it easier for remote attackers to capture this cookie by intercepting its transmission within an http session.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-3155 affects Foreman versions prior to 1.8.1 and represents a critical security flaw in cookie handling mechanisms. This issue specifically relates to the improper configuration of session cookies when the application operates over secure HTTPS connections. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly set the secure flag on the _session_id cookie, which is a fundamental security measure designed to protect session identifiers from being transmitted over unencrypted channels. When the secure flag is not set, cookies can be sent over both HTTP and HTTPS connections, creating an attack surface that adversaries can exploit to capture sensitive session information.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's session management implementation where the session cookie lacks proper security attributes that would normally be enforced during HTTPS sessions. This misconfiguration allows attackers to intercept session cookies through man-in-the-middle attacks or packet sniffing when users transition between HTTP and HTTPS contexts within the same domain. The vulnerability directly violates established security best practices and standards such as those outlined in CWE-614, which addresses the improper storage of sensitive data in cookies, and CWE-310, which covers cryptographic issues in session management. The absence of the secure flag means that even when users are connected via HTTPS, the session identifier can still be transmitted over insecure HTTP connections, undermining the security of the entire authentication mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with a straightforward method to hijack user sessions and gain unauthorized access to Foreman applications. Attackers can capture the _session_id cookie during network interception attacks, potentially allowing them to impersonate legitimate users and access administrative functions or sensitive system information. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where users might navigate between secure and insecure pages within the same application domain, creating opportunities for cookie transmission over unencrypted channels. The attack vector is relatively simple to execute and can be performed using standard network monitoring tools, making it accessible to threat actors with minimal technical expertise. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through network sniffing and interception attacks.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include updating Foreman to version 1.8.1 or later, which properly implements the secure flag for session cookies. Administrators should also review their application's cookie configuration settings to ensure that all session-related cookies include appropriate security attributes including the secure flag and, where applicable, the HttpOnly flag. Network administrators should implement additional security measures such as enforcing strict HTTPS usage through HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) headers and ensuring that all application resources are served exclusively over secure connections. Regular security audits of cookie handling mechanisms should be conducted to verify that proper security attributes are consistently applied across all session management components. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and detection capabilities to identify potential cookie interception attempts and unauthorized access patterns.