CVE-2020-23140 in Microweber
Summary
by MITRE • 11/10/2020
Microweber 1.1.18 is affected by insufficient session expiration. When changing passwords, both sessions for when a user changes email and old sessions in any other browser or device, the session does not expire and remains active.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-23140 affects Microweber version 1.1.18 and represents a critical session management flaw that directly impacts user authentication security. This issue falls under the broader category of insufficient session expiration mechanisms, which is classified as CWE-613 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The vulnerability manifests when users perform password changes, creating a security gap where existing sessions remain active even after authentication credentials have been modified. This behavior creates a persistent attack surface that allows unauthorized access to user accounts through previously established sessions, fundamentally undermining the principle of least privilege and proper session lifecycle management.
The technical implementation flaw stems from improper session invalidation during password change operations within the Microweber application framework. When a user modifies their password, the system should immediately invalidate all existing sessions associated with that user account to prevent session hijacking attacks. However, the current implementation fails to properly terminate old sessions, allowing attackers who have obtained session tokens to maintain access to the compromised account. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects sessions across multiple browsers and devices, meaning that even if a user changes their password on one device, attackers who possess valid session cookies from other devices can continue to operate under the compromised user's privileges. The flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1563.002 (Impersonation: Steal Session Token) and represents a failure in the application's session management security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session persistence issues, creating significant risks for both individual users and organizations relying on Microweber for their web applications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to maintain unauthorized access to user accounts, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized transactions, and privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where sensitive data is stored or processed, as it allows attackers to maintain access even after legitimate users have attempted to secure their accounts through password changes. Organizations using Microweber may face compliance violations under various security standards including pci dss, hipaa, and soc 2, as this vulnerability represents a clear failure in implementing proper session lifecycle management. The attack surface is further expanded because the vulnerability affects all session types within the application, including those used for administrative functions, user dashboards, and potentially API access points.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-23140 require immediate implementation of proper session invalidation procedures during authentication changes. The most effective approach involves implementing a comprehensive session management system that automatically invalidates all existing sessions when users change their passwords, email addresses, or other authentication credentials. Organizations should implement session binding mechanisms that tie sessions to specific user agents, IP addresses, or other identifying factors to enhance security. Additionally, implementing session timeout mechanisms with automatic logout capabilities, enforcing secure session cookie attributes including httponly and secure flags, and establishing regular session validation checks can significantly reduce the risk. The fix should be implemented in accordance with secure coding practices and security frameworks such as owasp top ten, specifically addressing the session management category. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication as an additional security layer, though this does not directly address the session expiration issue. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar session management vulnerabilities across the application stack, ensuring that all authentication mechanisms properly invalidate sessions during credential changes.