CVE-2022-24894 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Symfony storing cookie headers in HttpCache

Understanding CVE-2022-24894

Symfony is a PHP framework used for web and console applications. The vulnerability lies in how Symfony's HTTP cache system stores and returns responses, potentially exposing session data.

What is CVE-2022-24894?

Symfony's HTTP cache system caches entire responses, including headers, and returns them to clients. A recent change in the system allows storing

Set-Cookie

headers. If enabled, this could lead to session exposure and exploitation by attackers.

The Impact of CVE-2022-24894

Exploiting this vulnerability can result in attackers retrieving sensitive session data from unsuspecting victims. It affects multiple versions of Symfony, necessitating immediate action to mitigate the risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-24894

The vulnerability in Symfony's HTTP cache system exposes session data, impacting various versions of the framework.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from a change in the

AbstractSessionListener

, enabling the caching of responses containing

Set-Cookie

headers, potentially compromising user sessions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Symfony versions >= 2.0.0 and < 4.4.50, >= 5.0.0 and < 5.4.20, >= 6.0.0 and < 6.0.20, >= 6.1.0 and < 6.1.12, and >= 6.2.0 and < 6.2.6 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

By manipulating the cached responses with

Set-Cookie

headers, attackers can access and exploit user session data, posing a significant security risk.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2022-24894, immediate steps need to be taken to secure Symfony installations and prevent session exposure.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the patch available for branch 4.4 and update affected Symfony installations to safeguard against session hijacking and data theft.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update Symfony versions to ensure the latest security patches are applied promptly, mitigating potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and promptly apply patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.