CVE-2017-1000053 in Elixir Plug
Summary
by MITRE
Elixir Plug before v1.0.4, v1.1.7, v1.2.3 and v1.3.2 is vulnerable to arbitrary code execution in the deserialization functions of Plug.Session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1000053 affects the Elixir Plug framework, specifically targeting versions prior to v1.0.4, v1.1.7, v1.2.3, and v1.3.2. This security flaw resides within the deserialization functions of Plug.Session, which is a critical component responsible for managing user sessions in web applications built with the Elixir programming language. The issue represents a significant threat to applications that rely on Plug for session management, as it exposes systems to potential arbitrary code execution attacks that could compromise entire web infrastructures.
The technical flaw stems from insecure deserialization practices within the session handling mechanism. When Plug.Session processes serialized session data, it fails to properly validate or sanitize input before deserializing potentially malicious payloads. This vulnerability allows attackers to craft specially crafted session cookies or data that, when processed by the vulnerable deserialization functions, execute arbitrary code on the target system. The flaw essentially provides an attack vector where malicious input can be transformed into executable instructions, bypassing normal security boundaries and potentially granting full control over affected applications.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to web applications utilizing Elixir Plug frameworks. Attackers could leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary commands on affected servers, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or service disruption. The vulnerability affects applications across multiple version branches, making it particularly widespread and difficult to remediate. Organizations running applications that depend on Plug.Session for authentication and session management are at risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches, especially in environments where session data is stored in formats that support object deserialization.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which catalogs insecure deserialization issues, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation during deserialization can lead to remote code execution. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving deserialization of untrusted data and privilege escalation through code execution. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions, implementing proper input validation measures, and monitoring for suspicious session-related activities. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing web application firewalls and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts while ensuring that all Plug framework components are updated to their secure versions to prevent future incidents.