CVE-2015-8124 in Symfony
Summary
by MITRE
Session fixation vulnerability in the "Remember Me" login feature in Symfony 2.3.x before 2.3.35, 2.6.x before 2.6.12, and 2.7.x before 2.7.7 allows remote attackers to hijack web sessions via a session id.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-8124 represents a critical session fixation flaw within Symfony's "Remember Me" login functionality. This issue affects multiple versions of the Symfony web application framework, specifically targeting the 2.3.x series before 2.3.35, 2.6.x series before 2.6.12, and 2.7.x series before 2.7.7. The flaw resides in how the framework handles session identifiers when users opt to use the persistent login feature, creating an exploitable condition that enables remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to user sessions. Session fixation vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they allow attackers to establish a known session identifier and then trick users into using that identifier, effectively hijacking their authenticated sessions. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-384, which categorizes session fixation as a weakness that can lead to unauthorized access to user accounts and sensitive data.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the improper handling of session identifiers within Symfony's Remember Me mechanism. When users select the "Remember Me" option, the application should generate a new, unique session identifier to prevent session fixation attacks. However, in the affected versions, the system fails to properly invalidate or regenerate the session identifier, allowing attackers who obtain a valid session ID to reuse it and impersonate legitimate users. The vulnerability exploits the fundamental principle that session identifiers should be unpredictable and unique for each authentication event. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through network-based attacks without requiring any special privileges or access to the target system. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate authentication features that users expect to work securely, making detection more difficult for both administrators and security monitoring systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking to encompass potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive user information, and possible escalation to full system compromise. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to access user accounts, view confidential data, modify account settings, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The scope of potential damage depends on the privileges associated with compromised accounts and the nature of the applications built on the affected Symfony versions. Organizations using these vulnerable versions face significant risk, particularly those handling sensitive data such as personal information, financial records, or proprietary business data. The vulnerability affects web applications that rely on Symfony's authentication mechanisms, making it a widespread concern across the Symfony ecosystem. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where users may be authenticated through various means including administrative interfaces, customer portals, or internal business applications that utilize Symfony as their underlying framework.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8124 involve immediate patching of affected Symfony versions to the recommended secure releases, which include 2.3.35, 2.6.12, and 2.7.7 respectively. Organizations should implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes to ensure timely updates and patches are deployed across all affected systems. Additional protective measures include implementing proper session management practices such as using secure, random session identifiers, setting appropriate session timeouts, and ensuring that session identifiers are regenerated upon successful authentication. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual session behavior or patterns that might indicate session fixation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and conducting regular security assessments of web applications, particularly those using established frameworks that may contain known vulnerabilities. Organizations should consider implementing additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication and monitoring for suspicious login activities as part of their overall security posture. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and following security best practices as outlined in various security frameworks and standards including those referenced in the ATT&CK framework's application layer techniques.