CVE-2017-9280 in Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Some NetIQ Identity Manager Applications before Identity Manager 4.5.6.1 included the session token in GET URLs, potentially allowing exposure of user sessions to untrusted third parties via proxies, referer urls or similar.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9280 affects NetIQ Identity Manager applications prior to version 4.5.6.1 and represents a critical session management flaw that undermines the security of user authentication processes. This issue stems from the improper handling of session tokens within web application URLs, specifically when these tokens are transmitted through GET parameters rather than secure session management mechanisms. The flaw creates an inherent risk where sensitive session identifiers become exposed in URL strings that are commonly logged by web servers, cached by proxies, and transmitted through various network components including HTTP referer headers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the inclusion of session tokens as query parameters in HTTP GET requests, which violates fundamental security principles for session management. When session identifiers appear in URLs, they become susceptible to several attack vectors that are well-documented in cybersecurity frameworks. The exposure occurs because web servers, load balancers, and proxy servers typically log URL contents, making session tokens accessible to unauthorized parties who may have access to these logs. Additionally, the HTTP referer header commonly contains the full URL including session tokens, which can be intercepted and exploited by malicious actors monitoring network traffic. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information, and CWE-613, which covers insufficient session expiration, as the session tokens remain accessible for extended periods.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-9280 extends beyond simple session hijacking to encompass broader identity and access management risks. Attackers who intercept these exposed session tokens can impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to sensitive identity management systems, potentially compromising user accounts, accessing privileged resources, and executing unauthorized administrative actions. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where identity managers control access to critical systems and data repositories, as it can lead to lateral movement within networks and privilege escalation attacks. The risk is amplified by the fact that these session tokens remain valid until they expire naturally, providing attackers with extended periods of access to compromised accounts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate exposure of session tokens and the underlying architectural issues that permit such exposure. Organizations should implement proper session management protocols that utilize secure HTTP-only cookies with appropriate security flags rather than transmitting session identifiers through URL parameters. The recommended solution involves configuring the NetIQ Identity Manager applications to enforce secure session handling mechanisms that prevent session tokens from appearing in GET requests. Additionally, network security controls should be enhanced to monitor for and block URLs containing session identifiers, while implementing proper URL sanitization and input validation. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through phishing and social engineering, as the exposed session tokens can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation, enhanced logging, and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, while ensuring all affected systems are updated to version 4.5.6.1 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper session token handling mechanisms.