CVE-2017-3111 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Adobe Experience Manager 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0. Sensitive tokens are included in http GET requests under certain circumstances.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2021
Adobe Experience Manager suffers from a critical information exposure vulnerability that allows sensitive authentication tokens to be transmitted via HTTP GET requests. This flaw affects multiple versions including 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, and 6.0 of the platform. The vulnerability arises when the system includes authentication tokens as query parameters in URLs, which are then logged in web server logs, browser history, and potentially shared through referrer headers when navigating between pages. This exposure occurs under specific circumstances where the application framework fails to properly sanitize or remove authentication credentials from URL parameters during redirection or resource access operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of session management and authentication token lifecycle within the Adobe Experience Manager framework. When users access certain resources or perform specific operations, the system inadvertently embeds sensitive tokens such as session identifiers, access tokens, or authentication cookies directly into the URL query string. This practice violates fundamental security principles and creates multiple attack vectors for malicious actors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because HTTP GET requests are inherently visible in web server logs, browser history, and can be transmitted through various network intermediaries including proxies, firewalls, and monitoring tools.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential session hijacking and unauthorized access to protected resources. Attackers can exploit this flaw by capturing these URLs from web server logs, intercepting network traffic, or leveraging browser-based attacks to gain unauthorized access to user sessions and administrative functions. The exposure of authentication tokens in GET requests creates a persistent security risk that can persist for extended periods, especially when these URLs are cached by browsers or shared through social media platforms, email systems, or collaborative tools. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-209, Information Exposure Through an Error Message, and CWE-540, Information Exposure Through Persistent Storage, while also aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through network sniffing and T1531 for unauthorized access through session management flaws.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate implementation of URL parameter sanitization mechanisms within the Adobe Experience Manager framework. Organizations should configure web servers to prevent logging of URLs containing sensitive parameters, implement proper session management practices that do not rely on URL-based tokens, and ensure that all authentication tokens are transmitted via secure HTTP POST requests or headers rather than GET parameters. Additionally, security headers such as X-Frame-Options, Content Security Policy, and Strict-Transport-Security should be implemented to prevent various attack vectors. Adobe recommends upgrading to patched versions of Experience Manager, implementing proper input validation for URL parameters, and conducting thorough security reviews of all application components that handle authentication tokens. Regular monitoring of web server logs for suspicious URL patterns and implementing web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation of this vulnerability.