<<< Date Index >>>     <<< Thread Index >>>

ACROS Security: Session Fixation in JRun Management Console



=====[BEGIN-ACROS-REPORT]=====

PUBLIC

=========================================================================
ACROS Security Problem Report #2004-10-14-2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASPR #2004-10-14-2: Session Fixation in JRun Management Console 
=========================================================================

Document ID:     ASPR #2004-10-14-2-PUB
Vendor:          Macromedia (http://www.macromedia.com)
Target:          JRun 4 for Windows, Service Pack 1a
Impact:          A session fixation vulnerability exists in JRun
                 Management Console, enabling attackers to hijack
                 administrative sessions
Severity:        High
Status:          Official patch available, workaround available
Discovered by:   Mitja Kolsek of ACROS Security

Current version 
   http://www.acrossecurity.com/aspr/ASPR-2004-10-14-2-PUB.txt


Summary
=======

A session fixation vulnerability exists in JRun Management Console that 
enables forcing administrators to log into a preselected session.


Product Coverage
================

- JRun 4 for Windows, Service Pack 1a - affected

All updaters applied, up to and excluding JRun4 Updater 4.
Other versions may also be affected.


Analysis
========

JRun employs so-called "session cookies" for HTTP session maintenance. After
administrator's login to Management Console, JRun server generates a unique
session identifier (session ID) and sends it to administrator's browser
as a cookie named JSESSIONID. This session ID effectively becomes a static
password for the session, meaning that until the session times out or is
closed by the logged in administrator (by logging off), any browser with
access to port 8000 of JRun server and knowledge of the session ID will have
access to this session, and thereby access to administration of JRun
application servers.

Management console login process is vulnerable to session fixation (see
[1]),
allowing an attacker to fix administrator's JSESSIONID cookie in advance and
wait for him to log in to management console, thereby providing the attacker
with access to the console as well.


Solution
========

Macromedia has issued a security bulletin [2] and published JRun4 Updater 4,
which fixes this issue. Affected users can download the updater from
http://www.macromedia.com/support/jrun/updaters.html


Workaround
==========

- Don't allow potential attackers access to port 8000 of JRun server. 
- Always close all browser instances/windows and delete all cookies
  before logging in to JRun Management Console.


References
==========

[1] ACROS Security, "Session Fixation Vulnerability in Web-based
    Applications"
    http://www.acrossecurity.com/papers/session_fixation.pdf
    
[2] Macromedia Security Bulletin MPSB04-08 
    http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/security/security_zone/mpsb04-08.html


Acknowledgments
===============

We would like to acknowledge Macromedia for response to our notification of 
the identified vulnerability.


Contact
=======

ACROS d.o.o.
Makedonska ulica 113
SI - 2000 Maribor

e-mail: security@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
web:    http://www.acrossecurity.com
phone:  +386 2 3000 280
fax:    +386 2 3000 282

ACROS Security PGP Key
   http://www.acrossecurity.com/pgpkey.asc
   [Fingerprint: FE9E 0CFB CE41 36B0 4720 C4F1 38A3 F7DD]

ACROS Security Advisories
   http://www.acrossecurity.com/advisories.htm

ACROS Security Papers
   http://www.acrossecurity.com/papers.htm

ASPR Notification and Publishing Policy
   http://www.acrossecurity.com/asprNotificationAndPublishingPolicy.htm


Disclaimer
==========

The content of this report is purely informational and meant only for the
purpose of education and protection. ACROS d.o.o. shall in no event be
liable for any damage whatsoever, direct or implied, arising from use or
spread of this information. All identifiers (hostnames, IP addresses,
company names, individual names etc.) used in examples and demonstrations
are used only for explanatory purposes and have no connection with any
real host, company or individual. In no event should it be assumed that
use of these names means specific hosts, companies or individuals are
vulnerable to any attacks nor does it mean that they consent to being used
in any vulnerability tests. The use of information in this report is
entirely at user's risk.


Revision History
================

October 14, 2004: Initial release


Copyright
=========

(c) 2004 ACROS d.o.o. Forwarding and publishing of this document is
permitted providing the content between "[BEGIN-ACROS-REPORT]" and
"[END-ACROS-REPORT]" marks remains unchanged.

=====[END-ACROS-REPORT]=====