CVE-2022-24740 in Volto
Summary
by MITRE • 03/15/2022
Volto is a ReactJS-based frontend for the Plone Content Management System. Between versions 14.0.0-alpha.5 and 15.0.0-alpha.0, a user could have their authentication cookie replaced with an authentication cookie from another user, effectively giving them control of the other user's account and privileges. This occurs when using an outdated version of the `react-cookie` library and a server is under high load. A proof of concept does not currently exist, but it is possible for this issue to occur in the wild. The patch and fix is present in Volto 15.0.0-alpha.0. As a workaround, one may manually upgrade the `react-cookie` package to 4.1.1 and then override all Volto components that use this library.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2022-24740 represents a critical session management flaw in Volto, a ReactJS-based frontend for the Plone Content Management System. This issue specifically affects versions between 14.0.0-alpha.5 and 15.0.0-alpha.0, creating a scenario where authentication cookies could be inadvertently swapped between users under certain conditions. The flaw stems from the use of an outdated version of the react-cookie library, which introduces race conditions and improper cookie handling mechanisms that become particularly problematic during high system load scenarios. The vulnerability falls under CWE-384, which addresses session management weaknesses where applications fail to properly handle concurrent user sessions, potentially leading to session hijacking and unauthorized access to user accounts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the react-cookie library version lacks proper synchronization mechanisms for cookie operations, particularly when multiple requests are processed simultaneously under high load conditions. The underlying issue manifests in the cookie replacement process where one user's authentication token may overwrite another user's token in memory or storage, effectively transferring session privileges from one account to another. This behavior creates a dangerous privilege escalation scenario where a malicious user could potentially gain access to another user's administrative or regular account permissions, depending on the target's role within the Plone system. The vulnerability's exploitation requires specific environmental conditions including concurrent user activity and system resource contention, but the risk remains significant given that such conditions can occur in production environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-24740 extends beyond simple account compromise, as it fundamentally undermines the authentication and authorization mechanisms that protect user data and system integrity within Plone installations. Organizations using affected Volto versions face potential data breaches, unauthorized content modification, and privilege escalation attacks that could lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's potential for exploitation in the wild, despite the lack of a public proof of concept, indicates that real-world attacks are possible when deployment environments experience high traffic loads or concurrent user access patterns. This type of vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1563.002, which covers "Account Access Removal" and related session management attacks that can result in unauthorized system access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to upgrade to Volto 15.0.0-alpha.0 where the fix has been implemented. Organizations should also consider manual remediation by upgrading the react-cookie package to version 4.1.1 and ensuring all Volto components that utilize this library are properly overridden to prevent the vulnerable cookie handling mechanisms from being used. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper cookie synchronization and race condition handling within the react-cookie library, preventing the scenario where authentication tokens could be inadvertently swapped between concurrent user sessions. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for high load conditions and implement proper load balancing to reduce the likelihood of triggering this vulnerability during peak usage periods. The remediation process should include thorough testing of session management functionality to ensure that user authentication and authorization continue to function correctly after the upgrade.