CVE-2022-38846 in EspoCRM
Summary
by MITRE • 09/16/2022
EspoCRM version 7.1.8 is vulnerable to Missing Secure Flag allowing the browser to send plain text cookies over an insecure channel (HTTP). An attacker may capture the cookie from the insecure channel using MITM attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-38846 affects EspoCRM version 7.1.8 and represents a critical security flaw in the cookie handling mechanism that undermines the integrity of authentication sessions. This issue stems from the absence of the secure flag in HTTP cookies, which is a fundamental security control designed to prevent cookies from being transmitted over unencrypted connections. The secure flag serves as a critical barrier that ensures cookies containing sensitive session information are only sent over HTTPS connections, thereby protecting against man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers could intercept and exploit these credentials.
The technical implementation flaw manifests when EspoCRM generates authentication cookies without properly setting the secure flag attribute in the Set-Cookie header. This omission allows browsers to transmit these cookies over HTTP connections, making them susceptible to interception by malicious actors who can position themselves between the client and server to capture the plain text cookie data. The vulnerability directly violates security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with CWE-614, which specifically addresses the insecure transmission of session cookies over unencrypted channels. This flaw creates a pathway for attackers to conduct session hijacking attacks, where captured cookies can be used to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to the CRM system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with a potential entry point for broader system compromise. When an attacker successfully captures a session cookie through a man-in-the-middle attack, they can establish unauthorized access to EspoCRM accounts without needing to know the actual user credentials. This creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on EspoCRM for customer relationship management, as sensitive business data, contact information, and potentially financial records could be accessed or modified by unauthorized parties. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where network traffic is not properly secured or where users may be accessing the system over public Wi-Fi networks or untrusted connections.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations that include configuring EspoCRM to enforce secure cookie attributes across all authentication mechanisms. The recommended approach involves modifying the application configuration to ensure that all session cookies are transmitted with the secure flag set to true, preventing their transmission over HTTP connections. Additionally, implementing mandatory HTTPS enforcement through HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) headers provides an additional layer of protection by ensuring browsers only connect to the application over secure channels. Security teams should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and establish proper network segmentation to minimize the attack surface. Organizations utilizing this version of EspoCRM should prioritize upgrading to the latest stable release where this vulnerability has been addressed, as recommended by the vendor's security advisories and aligned with the ATT&CK framework's credential access techniques that leverage insecure cookie handling.