CVE-2019-14849 in 3scale
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability was found in 3scale before version 2.6, did not set the HTTPOnly attribute on the user session cookie. An attacker could use this to conduct cross site scripting attacks and gain access to unauthorized information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14849 represents a critical security flaw in the 3scale API management platform affecting versions prior to 2.6. This issue stems from the improper configuration of session cookies that lack the HTTPOnly attribute, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors seeking to compromise user sessions. The 3scale platform serves as a comprehensive API management solution that handles user authentication and session management for API providers and consumers, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on its services.
The technical flaw manifests in the session cookie implementation where the HTTPOnly flag is not properly set during the authentication process. This attribute serves as a crucial security mechanism that prevents client-side scripts from accessing the cookie, thereby mitigating cross-site scripting attacks. Without the HTTPOnly flag, session cookies become accessible to malicious javascript code executed within the browser, enabling attackers to steal session tokens and impersonate legitimate users. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-1004 which specifically addresses the lack of proper cookie security attributes and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on use of web shell for persistence and privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it enables attackers to conduct sophisticated cross-site scripting campaigns that can lead to unauthorized data access, privilege escalation, and potential system compromise. An attacker could leverage this weakness to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by authenticated users, allowing them to extract session cookies and gain persistent access to user accounts. This creates a pathway for data exfiltration, unauthorized API access, and potential lateral movement within the 3scale environment. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on 3scale for API governance and user management, as compromised sessions could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive API resources and associated data.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to 3scale version 2.6 or later where the HTTPOnly attribute is properly enforced on session cookies. Additional defensive measures should include monitoring for suspicious session activity, implementing proper content security policies, and conducting thorough security assessments of web applications using 3scale. The fix addresses the root cause by ensuring that all session cookies are configured with the HTTPOnly flag, preventing script-based cookie access while maintaining proper session management functionality. Security teams should also consider implementing additional layers of protection such as secure cookie attributes including SameSite and Secure flags, along with regular security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in the broader application ecosystem.