CVE-2019-4743 in Financial Transaction Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Financial Transaction Manager 3.0 does not set the secure attribute on authorization tokens or session cookies. Attackers may be able to get the cookie values by sending a http:// link to a user or by planting this link in a site the user goes to. The cookie will be sent to the insecure link and the attacker can then obtain the cookie value by snooping the traffic. IBM X-Force ID: 172880.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2024
IBM Financial Transaction Manager version 3.0 contains a critical security flaw that violates fundamental web application security principles by failing to properly configure session management cookies. This vulnerability stems from the application's inability to set the secure attribute on authorization tokens and session cookies, which represents a direct violation of established security standards including CWE-614, which specifically addresses insecure cookies. The flaw occurs at the protocol level where HTTP cookies are transmitted without the secure flag, making them susceptible to interception during transmission over unencrypted channels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the absence of proper cookie security measures through simple man-in-the-middle or cross-site scripting attacks. When users navigate to malicious websites or click on compromised links, their session cookies are transmitted over HTTP connections where they can be easily captured by network sniffing tools or intercepted through malicious network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers the exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications through phishing attacks that leverage insecure cookie handling. The insecure cookie transmission creates a pathway for attackers to hijack user sessions and gain unauthorized access to financial transaction data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for financial institutions utilizing IBM Financial Transaction Manager, as it compromises the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions containing sensitive financial information. Attackers who successfully intercept these cookies can impersonate legitimate users and perform unauthorized transactions, potentially leading to significant financial losses and regulatory violations. The vulnerability affects the core authentication mechanism of the application, undermining the entire security posture of the financial transaction processing system. Organizations using this software face increased risk of data breaches, compliance violations under financial regulations such as SOX, and potential reputational damage from security incidents involving unauthorized access to financial data.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of the secure flag on all session cookies and authorization tokens within the application configuration. Organizations must ensure that all cookies are transmitted only over encrypted HTTPS connections and that the secure attribute is properly configured in the web application server settings. Network administrators should implement mandatory HTTPS enforcement and disable HTTP access to the application wherever possible. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify all cookie configurations and ensure proper implementation of security headers including SameSite attributes to prevent cross-site request forgery attacks. The vulnerability also necessitates regular security testing and monitoring for similar cookie configuration issues across the entire application infrastructure.