CVE-2018-25052 in Catalyst-Plugin-Session
Summary
by MITRE • 12/28/2022
A vulnerability has been found in Catalyst-Plugin-Session up to 0.40 and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects the function _load_sessionid of the file lib/Catalyst/Plugin/Session.pm of the component Session ID Handler. The manipulation of the argument sid leads to cross site scripting. The attack can be initiated remotely. Upgrading to version 0.41 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is 88d1b599e1163761c9bd53bec53ba078f13e09d4. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. VDB-216958 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-25052 resides within the Catalyst-Plugin-Session Perl module, specifically affecting versions prior to 0.41. This security flaw is classified as a cross-site scripting vulnerability that emerges from improper handling of session identifiers within the session management subsystem. The affected component is the Session ID Handler which processes session identifiers during the session loading process, making it a critical element in the web application's authentication and session management infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests in the _load_sessionid function located within the lib/Catalyst/Plugin/Session.pm file, where the argument sid representing the session identifier is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed. This inadequate input validation creates an avenue for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into session identifiers, which can then be executed in the context of other users' browsers when the compromised session data is subsequently rendered or processed. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can initiate the attack without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in web environments where session identifiers are frequently transmitted over network connections.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially allow attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. When exploited, the XSS vulnerability can lead to complete compromise of user sessions, enabling attackers to access protected resources, modify user data, or redirect users to malicious websites. The severity is compounded by the fact that session identifiers are fundamental components in web application security, making this vulnerability particularly impactful in environments where session management is critical for maintaining application integrity and user privacy.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell' and T1566.001 for 'Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment' when considering how such vulnerabilities might be exploited through malicious session manipulation. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to version 0.41 or later, which incorporates the patch identified by the hash 88d1b599e1163761c9bd53bec53ba078f13e09d4. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation, output encoding, and regular security assessments of their Perl-based web applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of their session management infrastructure.