CVE-2021-25992 in Ifme
Summary
by MITRE • 02/10/2022
In Ifme, versions 1.0.0 to v.7.33.2 don’t properly invalidate a user’s session even after the user initiated logout. It makes it possible for an attacker to reuse the admin cookies either via local/network access or by other hypothetical attacks.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-25992 affects the Ifme platform across versions 1.0.0 through 7.33.2, representing a critical session management flaw that undermines the application's authentication security model. This weakness stems from improper session invalidation mechanisms following user logout operations, creating a persistent security risk that allows unauthorized access to administrative privileges. The vulnerability directly impacts the platform's ability to maintain secure user sessions and enforce proper access controls.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's session handling architecture where logout functionality fails to effectively terminate active user sessions and invalidate associated authentication tokens. When a user initiates a logout sequence, the system should immediately invalidate the session identifier and remove any associated cookies from the client-side environment. However, in affected versions of Ifme, this critical cleanup process is either partially executed or completely omitted, leaving session cookies valid and reusable by unauthorized parties. This behavior creates a window of opportunity for attackers to exploit the lingering authentication state.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it provides attackers with sustained access to administrative functions that should only be available to authorized personnel. An attacker who gains access to a valid session cookie can maintain administrative privileges indefinitely, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized modifications to platform configurations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through various attack vectors including local access, network-based attacks, or even through compromised user accounts that have been logged out but whose sessions remain active.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-613, which addresses inadequate session management and improper session invalidation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1563.002 for "Account Access Removal" and T1078.004 for "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts" in the context of maintaining unauthorized access through session persistence. The attack surface is significantly expanded because the vulnerability does not require additional authentication factors or complex exploitation techniques, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking persistent access to administrative interfaces. Organizations using Ifme versions within the affected range face a heightened risk of unauthorized administrative access and potential data breaches.
The recommended mitigations include implementing robust session invalidation procedures that immediately terminate session identifiers upon logout, utilizing secure cookie attributes such as HttpOnly, Secure, and SameSite flags, and implementing session timeout mechanisms with automatic cleanup processes. Additionally, organizations should deploy session management frameworks that properly handle session lifecycle events and consider implementing additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of session compromise. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that session management mechanisms are functioning correctly and that no similar vulnerabilities exist within the application's authentication architecture.