CVE-2018-10813 in Dedos-web
Summary
by MITRE
In Dedos-web 1.0, the cookie and session secrets used in the Express.js application have hardcoded values that are visible in the source code published on GitHub. An attacker can edit the contents of the session cookie and re-sign it using the hardcoded secret. Due to the use of Passport.js, this could lead to privilege escalation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10813 resides within the Dedos-web 1.0 web application framework built on Express.js technology. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's session management implementation where hardcoded cryptographic secrets are embedded directly within the source code that has been publicly exposed on GitHub. The presence of these hardcoded values creates a fundamental security breach that undermines the entire session authentication mechanism of the application. The vulnerability specifically affects the cookie and session management components that rely on Express.js session handling middleware, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that depend on secure user authentication and authorization.
The technical flaw manifests through the use of predictable and hardcoded secret values that are intended to protect session integrity and prevent unauthorized access to user sessions. When session cookies are signed using these hardcoded secrets, attackers can easily extract the secret values from the publicly available source code and subsequently forge valid session cookies. This process involves extracting the secret key, modifying the session data to escalate privileges, and then resigning the cookie with the known secret. The implementation directly violates security best practices for cryptographic key management and demonstrates a lack of proper secret handling procedures. This vulnerability falls under CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-326 (Inadequate Encryption Strength) categories, as it exposes cryptographic secrets in cleartext within the source code and employs insufficient protection mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking to potentially enable full privilege escalation within the application. Since the application utilizes Passport.js for authentication and authorization services, successful exploitation of the hardcoded session secrets allows attackers to assume the identity of any user within the system, including administrative accounts. This creates a pathway for unauthorized data access, modification, and deletion operations that could compromise the entire application infrastructure. The vulnerability affects all users of the Dedos-web 1.0 framework who have not implemented additional security measures to address this specific weakness. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to conduct persistent attacks against the application, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper cryptographic key management practices. Organizations should replace the hardcoded session secrets with randomly generated, securely stored keys that are not exposed in source code repositories. The recommended approach involves implementing environment-based configuration management where cryptographic secrets are loaded from secure external sources rather than being embedded within the application code. Additionally, organizations should implement proper access controls for source code repositories to prevent unauthorized exposure of sensitive information. The remediation process should include rotating all existing session secrets and ensuring that no cryptographic keys are stored in version control systems. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following the principle of least privilege and adhering to security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 controls for secure configuration management and cryptographic key management. Organizations should also implement continuous monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts and maintain regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in their web applications.