Re: Web session tracking security prob. Vulnerable: IIS and ColdFusion (maybe others)

["Jeff Jancula" <Jeff () Jancula com>]

Keith,

I tested BEA's WebLogic and IBM's Websphere - there were NOT vulnerable.

Jeff

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Keith.Morgan" <Keith.Morgan () Terradon com>
To: "'Jeff Jancula'" <Jeff () Jancula com>
Cc: <vuln-dev () securityfocus com>
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2001 10:00 AM
Subject: RE: Web session tracking security prob. Vulnerable: IIS and ColdFusion (maybe others)


> I've always had a problem with using cookies or session variables for
> authentication mechanisms.  These rely on client-side output.  Session
> variables in IIS are really just temporary cookies.  I could get into a
> whole rant about "best practices" regarding cookies, session auth etc... but
> that's not really the purpose of my reply.  
>
> What I really want to know is, how does apache deal with cookies, sessions,
> etc...  Has anyone tested to see if apache will accept user supplied cookie
> values?
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jeff Jancula [mailto:Jeff () Jancula com]
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2001 2:26 PM
> > To: vuln-dev () securityfocus com
> > Subject: Web session tracking security prob. Vulnerable: IIS and
> > ColdFusion (maybe others)
> >
> >
> > SECURITY PROBLEMS WITH WEB SERVERS' SESSION TRACKING MECHANISMS.
> >
> > On February 20, 2001 we reported the following problem (with 
> > specifics to IIS and SITESERVER) to the Microsoft Security 
> > Response Center.
> >
> > On March 22, 2001 we also reported a similar problem to 
> > Allaire (now Macromedia) for ColdFusion.
> >
> > Approximately 2-3 weeks after reporting to appropriate 
> > vendors, we also reported these vulnerabilities to CERT.ORG.
> >
> > PROBLEM DESCRIPTIONS:
> >
> > Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) and Site Server 
> > do not verify that session cookie values were actually issued 
> > by the server. An Internet user can generate their own 
> > session cookie, which will be accepted as valid by these 
> > servers. An attacker could use cross-site scripting 
> > vulnerabilities to generate a modified session cookie, with a 
> > predictable session value, then use the predetermined session 
> > value to later take over (impersonate) other users.
> <snip>