CVE-2018-25060 in csrf
Summary
by MITRE • 12/30/2022
A vulnerability was found in Macaron csrf and classified as problematic. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file csrf.go. The manipulation of the argument Generate leads to sensitive cookie without secure attribute. The attack may be launched remotely. The name of the patch is dadd1711a617000b70e5e408a76531b73187031c. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. VDB-217058 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-25060 resides within the Macaron web framework's Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection mechanism, specifically in the csrf.go file where the Generate function processes sensitive cookie attributes. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity of CSRF protection measures and exposes applications to potential exploitation. The vulnerability manifests when the Generate function fails to properly configure the secure attribute on sensitive cookies, creating an avenue for attackers to compromise session management and potentially execute unauthorized actions on behalf of users.
The technical implementation flaw stems from improper cookie attribute handling within the CSRF protection logic, where the secure flag that should be automatically set on sensitive cookies is omitted during the cookie generation process. This vulnerability falls under CWE-614, which specifically addresses the improper storage of sensitive information in cookies, and more broadly aligns with CWE-312, concerning the exposure of sensitive information through hidden fields and cookies. The insecure cookie configuration creates a scenario where authentication tokens and session identifiers can be transmitted over unencrypted channels, making them susceptible to interception and exploitation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attack vectors that can be leveraged by malicious actors to perform CSRF attacks against vulnerable applications. The attack surface expands significantly since the missing secure attribute on sensitive cookies allows for credential theft and session hijacking across insecure network connections. This weakness directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of web applications built on the Macaron framework, potentially enabling attackers to execute unauthorized transactions, access restricted resources, or impersonate legitimate users. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target affected systems from external networks without requiring physical access or local privileges.
The patch referenced as dadd1711a617000b70e5e408a76531b73187031c addresses the core issue by ensuring that all sensitive cookies generated by the CSRF protection mechanism include the secure attribute. This fix aligns with industry best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten 2017 and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, specifically addressing the protection of sensitive data in transit and at rest. Organizations should immediately implement this patch to mitigate the risk of CSRF attacks and ensure proper cookie security configurations. The vulnerability's classification as problematic by the Macaron framework team indicates the severity of the issue and the necessity for prompt remediation. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all applications using affected versions of Macaron and ensure that the patch is properly deployed across all environments. Additionally, organizations should review their cookie management policies and implement additional security controls such as HttpOnly flags and SameSite attributes to provide defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities in the future.