CVE-2023-29019 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

GitHub_M published CVE-2023-29019 on April 21, 2023, highlighting a session fixation vulnerability in fastify-passport.

Understanding CVE-2023-29019

This CVE involves a session fixation vulnerability in the fastify-passport library, impacting versions below 1.1.0 and between 2.0.0 to 2.3.0 of fastify-passport.

What is CVE-2023-29019?

Applications using @fastify/passport for user authentication, coupled with @fastify/session as the session management mechanism, are susceptible to session fixation attacks by network and same-site threat actors.

The Impact of CVE-2023-29019

Fastify applications relying on @fastify/passport for user authentication can be exploited by attackers to hijack user sessions through a valid sessionId cookie.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-29019

The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the sessionId preservation in the authenticate function, leading to the unauthorized hijacking of user sessions.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate the sessionId cookie, granting access to authenticated sessions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vulnerable versions: < 1.1.0 & >= 2.0.0, < 2.3.0 of fastify-passport.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the sessionId cookie to hijack user sessions, compromising application security.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-29019, users are advised to update to newer versions of fastify-passport for enhanced security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to the latest versions of @fastify/passport to prevent session fixation attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement regular security updates and follow best practices for secure session management in fastify applications.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely application of security patches and stay informed about vulnerability disclosures for proactive mitigation.