CVE-2022-39284 in CodeIgniter
Summary
by MITRE • 10/07/2022
CodeIgniter is a PHP full-stack web framework. In versions prior to 4.2.7 setting `$secure` or `$httponly` value to `true` in `Config\Cookie` is not reflected in `set_cookie()` or `Response::setCookie()`. As a result cookie values are erroneously exposed to scripts. It should be noted that this vulnerability does not affect session cookies. Users are advised to upgrade to v4.2.7 or later. Users unable to upgrade are advised to manually construct their cookies either by setting the options in code or by constructing Cookie objects. Examples of each workaround are available in the linked GHSA.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-39284 affects the CodeIgniter PHP web framework, specifically impacting versions prior to 4.2.7 where the cookie security configuration parameters are not properly enforced. This issue resides in the framework's cookie handling mechanism within the Config\Cookie class, where the secure and httponly flags are intended to provide additional security layers for cookie transmission and script access prevention. The flaw represents a failure in the framework's implementation of cookie security policies, creating potential exposure risks for sensitive data transmitted through web applications built on this platform.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from a configuration parameter handling error in the cookie setting functions set_cookie() and Response::setCookie(). When developers configure cookie security parameters by setting $secure or $httponly to true in the Config\Cookie configuration, these values are not properly propagated to the actual cookie setting functions. This misconfiguration results in cookies being created without the intended security protections, making them potentially accessible to client-side scripts and vulnerable to cross-site scripting attacks. The vulnerability specifically impacts the cookie's secure flag which prevents transmission over unencrypted HTTP connections and the httponly flag which prevents client-side script access to cookies, both of which are fundamental security measures in web application development.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple cookie handling, as it creates potential attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to compromise user sessions and sensitive data. When cookies lack proper security flags, they become susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can intercept and potentially modify cookie values transmitted over insecure connections. Additionally, the absence of httponly flags makes cookies vulnerable to cross-site scripting attacks, where malicious scripts could extract cookie values from the browser's document.cookie object. This vulnerability affects the core web application security posture of any CodeIgniter application using affected versions, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, and unauthorized access to user accounts.
Security practitioners should recognize this issue as a configuration enforcement failure that aligns with CWE-614, which describes insecure cookies due to insufficient server-side cookie flags. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1548.002, which covers abuse of web application features for privilege escalation. Organizations using CodeIgniter versions prior to 4.2.7 must implement immediate remediation strategies, with the primary recommendation being the upgrade to version 4.2.7 or later where the cookie security parameters are properly enforced. When upgrading is not immediately possible, administrators should manually construct cookies using proper cookie setting methods that explicitly include security flags, or implement custom cookie handling code that ensures the secure and httponly parameters are correctly applied. The framework's official guidance provides specific examples of workarounds that address this configuration gap, ensuring that applications maintain proper cookie security even when operating with vulnerable versions.