CVE-2022-40916 in Tiny File Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 02/06/2025
Tiny File Manager v2.4.7 and below is vulnerable to session fixation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2025
Tiny File Manager version 2.4.7 and earlier contains a critical session fixation vulnerability that allows attackers to hijack user sessions and gain unauthorized access to sensitive files and system functionality. This vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly regenerate session identifiers upon successful authentication, creating a scenario where session tokens remain static and predictable across authentication boundaries.
The technical flaw exists in the session management implementation where the application does not destroy or regenerate the session ID after a user successfully logs in. This allows an attacker who has obtained a valid session token to reuse it to impersonate the authenticated user. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-384, which specifically addresses session fixation issues in web applications. When a user authenticates to the Tiny File Manager, the system should invalidate the previous session and generate a new unique session identifier, but this critical step is omitted in vulnerable versions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to access any files that the authenticated user has permission to view or modify. An attacker could potentially gain access to sensitive documents, configuration files, or system resources through the compromised session. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of the system, as unauthorized parties can read, modify, or delete files within the file manager's scope. This represents a direct violation of access control mechanisms and can lead to data breaches, unauthorized system modifications, and potential lateral movement within a network environment where the file manager is deployed.
Security practitioners should immediately upgrade to Tiny File Manager version 2.4.8 or later, which includes proper session regeneration upon authentication. Additional mitigations include implementing proper session management practices such as using secure session cookies with appropriate flags, implementing session timeout mechanisms, and monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1563.002 which covers credentials from password databases, and T1078 which addresses valid accounts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for session token reuse patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar session management flaws in other web applications within the infrastructure.