Session Hijacking Vulnerability in Django's RemoteUserMiddleware
Summary
CVE-2014-0482: The contrib.auth.middleware.RemoteUserMiddleware middleware in Django before 1.4.14, 1.5.x before 1.5.9, 1.6.x before 1.6.6, and 1.7 before release candidate 3, when using the contrib.auth.backends.RemoteUserBackend back... Affects python-django versions < 1.6.6-1. Fixed in 1.6.6-1. How to fix ↓
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Background
Django is a high-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. It provides a robust set of features for building web applications, including an authentication system. The RemoteUserMiddleware is a component that allows Django to authenticate users based on the REMOTE_USER HTTP header. However, this middleware has a critical vulnerability that can be exploited by remote authenticated users to hijack web sessions, compromising the security of applications using affected versions.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2014-0482, affects Django versions prior to 1.4.14, 1.5.x before 1.5.9, 1.6.x before 1.6.6, and 1.7 before release candidate 3. It arises from the improper handling of the REMOTE_USER header when using the RemoteUserBackend authentication backend. This flaw allows an attacker to impersonate another user by manipulating the REMOTE_USER header, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information and functionalities within the web application.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
1.6.6-1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade python-djangoTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If upgrading Django is not immediately feasible, consider disabling the RemoteUserMiddleware temporarily to mitigate the risk of session hijacking. This can be done by commenting out or removing the middleware from the MIDDLEWARE settings in your Django settings file.
Conclusion
CVE-2014-0482 is a significant vulnerability in Django's RemoteUserMiddleware that poses a risk of session hijacking. It is crucial for developers using affected versions to upgrade to a secure version or implement temporary workarounds to protect their applications from potential exploitation.
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FAQ
CVE-2014-0482 is a vulnerability in Django's RemoteUserMiddleware that allows remote authenticated users to hijack web sessions.
Django versions before 1.4.14, 1.5.x before 1.5.9, 1.6.x before 1.6.6, and 1.7 before release candidate 3 are affected.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Visit Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without any signup.
Failing to fix this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential exploitation of sensitive user information.
Yes, you can disable the RemoteUserMiddleware in your Django settings as a temporary workaround.
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