CVE-2017-18179 in Sitefinity
Summary
by MITRE
Progress Sitefinity 9.1 uses wrap_access_token as a non-expiring authentication token that remains valid after a password change or a session termination. Also, it is transmitted as a GET parameter. This is fixed in 10.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18179 affects Progress Sitefinity version 9.1, representing a critical authentication flaw that undermines the security posture of web applications built on this platform. This issue stems from the improper handling of authentication tokens within the application's session management system, creating persistent access privileges that should have been invalidated upon user account modifications or session termination events.
The technical flaw manifests through the use of wrap_access_token as a persistent authentication mechanism that lacks proper expiration controls. This non-expiring token remains valid even after users change their passwords or when sessions are explicitly terminated by system administrators. The vulnerability is further compounded by the transmission method of this token, which is passed as a GET parameter in URL strings, making it susceptible to exposure through various attack vectors including web server logs, browser history, referrer headers, and network monitoring tools. This design flaw directly violates established security principles for session management and authentication token handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with persistent access to user accounts and administrative functions without requiring valid credentials. Once an attacker obtains a wrap_access_token through any means, they can maintain unauthorized access to the Sitefinity application indefinitely, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized modifications to content management systems. The exposure through GET parameters increases the attack surface considerably, as these tokens can be inadvertently logged in various system components and shared through web traffic monitoring solutions.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-613, which addresses insufficient session expiration, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in authentication systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this issue under credential access and persistence tactics, as attackers can leverage these tokens to maintain long-term access to compromised systems. The fact that this vulnerability was patched in version 10.1 demonstrates the severity of the flaw and the necessity of proper authentication token lifecycle management in web applications.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including the enforcement of token expiration mechanisms, proper token handling practices, and the removal of authentication tokens from URL parameters. Security configurations should mandate that all authentication tokens be transmitted via secure channels such as HTTP headers or POST parameters rather than GET requests. Regular security assessments and patch management programs should be implemented to ensure that all Sitefinity installations are updated to versions that address this vulnerability. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect and alert on suspicious token usage patterns and unauthorized access attempts.