CVE-2023-3520 in openitcockpit
Summary
by MITRE • 07/06/2023
Sensitive Cookie in HTTPS Session Without 'Secure' Attribute in GitHub repository it-novum/openitcockpit prior to 4.6.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-3520 affects the openitcockpit repository version prior to 4.6.6, specifically concerning session management practices within HTTPS environments. This issue represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of user authentication and authorization mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests when sensitive cookies are transmitted over secure HTTPS connections but lack the essential 'Secure' attribute, creating a potential attack vector for malicious actors seeking to compromise user sessions. The presence of sensitive session data in cookies without proper secure transmission flags creates a significant risk for session hijacking and credential theft attacks.
The technical flaw stems from improper cookie configuration within the application's session management system. When cookies contain sensitive information such as session tokens or authentication identifiers, they must be explicitly marked with the 'Secure' attribute to ensure transmission only over encrypted connections. Without this attribute, cookies can be transmitted over both HTTP and HTTPS connections, exposing them to interception on unencrypted channels. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-614, which specifically addresses sensitive cookies transmitted over insecure channels, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through the exploitation of session management weaknesses. The flaw exists in the application's cookie handling logic where developers failed to implement proper security attributes during cookie creation, particularly within the authentication flow of the openitcockpit platform.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session management issues to encompass broader security risks for organizations utilizing the affected software. Attackers can exploit this weakness by intercepting network traffic on unencrypted channels or by conducting man-in-the-middle attacks to capture session cookies that would otherwise be protected. This creates opportunities for unauthorized access to administrative panels, data manipulation, and potential lateral movement within network environments where openitcockpit is deployed. The vulnerability affects all users who authenticate through the platform, particularly those accessing the system from potentially insecure network environments or public Wi-Fi networks where traffic interception is more feasible. Organizations relying on openitcockpit for infrastructure monitoring and management face significant risk of unauthorized access to critical systems and sensitive operational data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper cookie security attributes within the application codebase. The primary solution involves ensuring that all sensitive cookies, particularly those containing session identifiers, are configured with the 'Secure' attribute during creation. This remediation should be complemented by implementing the 'HttpOnly' attribute to prevent client-side script access to sensitive cookies and the 'SameSite' attribute to prevent cross-site request forgery attacks. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive code reviews to identify any additional cookie configurations that may lack proper security attributes. The recommended fix involves updating the openitcockpit application to version 4.6.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, network security measures such as implementing proper SSL/TLS configurations, monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns, and conducting regular security assessments should be employed to reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the broader system infrastructure.