CVE-2020-4229 in Worklight
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Worklight/MobileFoundation 8.0.0.0 does not properly invalidate session cookies when a user logs out of a session, which could allow another user to gain unauthorized access to a user's session. IBM X-Force ID: 175211.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2020
This vulnerability exists in IBM Worklight and Mobile Foundation versions 8.0.0.0 where the session management mechanism fails to properly invalidate session cookies upon user logout. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that directly violates fundamental web application security principles and can be categorized under CWE-613. When a user logs out of the system, the application should ensure that all session identifiers are invalidated and that subsequent requests cannot reuse the previous session context. However, in this case, the session cookies remain active in the browser, allowing an attacker or unauthorized user who gains access to the same browser instance to potentially hijack the original user's session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper session handling within the authentication framework. IBM Worklight/MobileFoundation 8.0.0.0 fails to execute proper session termination procedures that should include cookie invalidation, session token destruction, and cache clearing. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for Account Access Removal and represents a classic session management flaw that enables session hijacking attacks. The vulnerability can be exploited through various vectors including shared computing environments, public terminals, or when users fail to completely close browser sessions after logout.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it undermines the core security model of any web application that relies on session-based authentication. An attacker who observes or gains access to a valid session cookie can impersonate the legitimate user and access sensitive data, perform unauthorized transactions, or execute privileged operations within the application. This risk is particularly elevated in enterprise environments where mobile applications handle confidential business data and user credentials. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor that persists even after legitimate logout procedures, making it extremely difficult for system administrators to detect unauthorized access attempts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper session management protocols that align with industry standards such as those defined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST SP 800-63B. Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of IBM Worklight/MobileFoundation where available, as IBM has addressed this issue in subsequent releases. Additionally, security teams should implement comprehensive session management policies including secure cookie attributes, proper session timeout mechanisms, and regular session validation checks. The implementation of additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication and real-time session monitoring can provide defense-in-depth measures to detect and prevent unauthorized session usage. Organizations should also conduct thorough security testing of their mobile applications to identify similar session management flaws and ensure that all logout procedures properly terminate user sessions across all application components.