CVE-2020-23136 in Microweber
Summary
by MITRE • 11/10/2020
Microweber v1.1.18 is affected by no session expiry after log-out.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-23136 affects Microweber version 1.1.18 and represents a critical session management flaw that undermines the application's authentication security model. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly terminate user sessions upon successful logout, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability directly impacts the application's ability to maintain secure user sessions and can lead to unauthorized access to protected resources.
This technical flaw falls under the category of session management vulnerabilities, specifically related to improper session termination following user logout events. The absence of proper session invalidation means that even after a user logs out, the session token or identifier remains valid and can be reused by an attacker who gains access to the session data. This behavior violates fundamental security principles and creates a window of opportunity for session hijacking attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core authentication mechanism of the application, making it a prime target for exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential data breaches, privilege escalation, and compromise of sensitive user information. Attackers who can intercept or obtain valid session tokens can continue to access the application with the privileges of the logged-out user, potentially gaining access to personal data, administrative functions, or other protected resources. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including session token interception, cross-site scripting attacks, or by simply maintaining access to a browser session that was not properly terminated. The risk is compounded by the fact that users may not immediately realize their sessions remain active, especially in shared or public computing environments.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-613, which addresses insufficient session expiration, and can be mapped to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1566 for credential access and T1078 for valid accounts. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in implementing proper session lifecycle management, which is a critical requirement for maintaining application security. Organizations using Microweber v1.1.18 should immediately implement mitigations including proper session invalidation upon logout, session timeout mechanisms, and regular security auditing of authentication flows. The recommended remediation involves ensuring that session tokens are invalidated server-side when a user logs out, implementing automatic session timeouts, and conducting thorough security testing to verify that session termination occurs properly across all authentication flows within the application.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend to compliance requirements and industry standards such as ISO 27001, NIST cybersecurity frameworks, and PCI DSS, which mandate proper session management and authentication controls. Organizations must also consider implementing additional security measures such as multi-factor authentication, session monitoring, and regular penetration testing to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability. Regular updates and patches should be applied promptly to address this and related session management issues that could compromise the overall security posture of the application and its users.