CVE-2018-11324 in Joomla
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Joomla! Core before 3.8.8. A long running background process, such as remote checks for core or extension updates, could create a race condition where a session that was expected to be destroyed would be recreated.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2023
This vulnerability in Joomla! Core affects versions prior to 3.8.8 and represents a significant session management flaw that could lead to persistent authentication bypass opportunities. The issue stems from improper handling of session cleanup during long-running background processes, creating a scenario where destroyed sessions are unexpectedly recreated. The vulnerability manifests when background tasks such as remote update checks for core components or extensions interfere with session state management, potentially allowing attackers to maintain access to compromised accounts beyond the expected session lifetime.
The technical root cause involves a race condition in the session handling mechanism where concurrent processes attempt to modify session state simultaneously. When a background process performs remote checks for updates, it may inadvertently trigger session recreation logic that was designed to destroy inactive sessions. This race condition creates a window where session identifiers that should have been invalidated remain active, effectively allowing unauthorized access to user accounts. The flaw operates at the application level and demonstrates poor synchronization between foreground user interactions and background maintenance tasks, which is classified under CWE-362 - Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability could enable attackers to maintain persistent access to compromised Joomla! installations for extended periods. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through legitimate background processes that are essential for system maintenance, making detection more difficult. Attackers could potentially leverage this to access administrative accounts, modify content, or establish backdoor access points within the application. The attack vector requires minimal privileges initially, as the vulnerability allows for session hijacking rather than direct exploitation of other system components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1563.002 - Access Token Manipulation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching to Joomla! version 3.8.8 or later, which contains the necessary session management fixes. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual background process activity and session recreation patterns. Additional defensive measures include implementing session timeout controls, enforcing strict access controls for background processes, and regularly auditing session management logs. Network-based detection can be achieved through monitoring for anomalous session behavior patterns, particularly during update operations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper synchronization mechanisms in multi-threaded applications and serves as a reminder of the critical need for robust session lifecycle management in web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as two-factor authentication and regular security assessments to reduce the overall risk exposure.