CVE-2017-1000046 in Mautic
Summary
by MITRE
Mautic 2.6.1 and earlier fails to set flags on session cookies
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1000046 affects Mautic versions 2.6.1 and earlier, specifically addressing a critical security flaw in session cookie handling. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly configure essential security flags on session cookies, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability represents a direct violation of established web application security practices and falls under the broader category of insecure session management, which is classified as CWE-614 by the CWE database. Session cookies without proper security attributes can be accessed by client-side scripts, transmitted over insecure connections, and potentially intercepted during network transmission, making them susceptible to various attack vectors including cross-site scripting and man-in-the-middle attacks.
The technical flaw manifests when Mautic generates session cookies for user authentication and tracking purposes. Instead of implementing proper security flags such as HttpOnly, Secure, and SameSite attributes, the application relies on default cookie behavior that leaves sessions exposed to unauthorized access. This configuration oversight allows attackers to potentially extract session identifiers from browser memory through malicious scripts, particularly when users navigate to compromised websites or when attackers leverage cross-site scripting vulnerabilities within the application. The absence of the HttpOnly flag means that JavaScript running on the victim's browser can access session cookies, while the lack of Secure flag permits transmission over unencrypted HTTP connections, and missing SameSite attributes leave sessions vulnerable to cross-site request forgery attacks. These combined weaknesses create a comprehensive session management vulnerability that significantly weakens the overall security posture of the Mautic application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it creates multiple attack pathways for threat actors seeking to compromise user accounts and access sensitive marketing data. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to impersonate legitimate users, potentially gaining access to customer databases, campaign configurations, and analytics data that Mautic users rely upon for business operations. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations using Mautic for email marketing automation, lead tracking, and customer relationship management, where session compromise could result in unauthorized access to commercial intelligence, personal data breaches, and potential regulatory compliance violations. The attack surface is further expanded when considering that Mautic is often deployed in environments where users may be accessing the application over unsecured networks, increasing the likelihood of session interception. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 (Account Access Removal) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) when attackers leverage the compromised sessions for data exfiltration or lateral movement within affected networks.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability by upgrading to Mautic versions that properly configure session cookie security flags. The recommended approach involves ensuring that all session cookies include the HttpOnly flag to prevent client-side script access, the Secure flag to mandate encrypted transmission over HTTPS connections, and appropriate SameSite attributes to prevent cross-site request forgery. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their Mautic deployments, review existing session management configurations, and implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing additional protective measures such as mandatory HTTPS enforcement, regular security scanning, and user session timeout configurations. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper cookie security implementation in web applications, aligning with industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework guidelines for secure coding practices. Organizations that cannot immediately upgrade should consider implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls and enhanced monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts while planning for the necessary software updates.