CVE-2011-4136: Django Session Modification Vulnerability
Summary
CVE-2011-4136: django.contrib.sessions in Django before 1.2.7 and 1.3.x before 1.3.1, when session data is stored in the cache, uses the root namespace for both session identifiers and application-data keys, which allows remote attacke... Affects django across 2 version ranges.
< 1.2.7
>= 1.3, < 1.3.1
Fixed in 1.2.7 or 1.3.1, depending on the release line you run. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- python-django · Debian:11
The same CVE-2011-4136 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
Django is a popular Python web framework used for developing web applications. It provides various features and components to simplify the development process. One of these components is django.contrib.sessions, which handles session management. Sessions allow web applications to store user-specific data across multiple requests. However, in versions of Django prior to 1.2.7 and 1.3.x prior to 1.3.1, there is a vulnerability in the session management when session data is stored in the cache. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to modify a session by triggering the use of a key that is equal to that session's identifier.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability arises from the use of the root namespace for both session identifiers and application-data keys in the django.contrib.sessions component. This means that an attacker can manipulate a session by using a key that matches the session's identifier. By doing so, they can modify the session data and potentially gain unauthorized access or perform malicious actions on behalf of the user. The impact of this vulnerability can range from session hijacking to unauthorized data manipulation within the application.
How To Fix
Latest published version: 6.1.2 as of 22 Oct 2026
pip install --upgrade "django==6.1.2"Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the versions below are the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you can't move to the latest
The minimum fixed version depends on the release line you run.
-
< 1.2.71.2.7pip install --upgrade "django==1.2.7" -
>= 1.3, < 1.3.11.3.1pip install --upgrade "django==1.3.1"
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Workaround
If upgrading Django is not immediately feasible, a temporary workaround can be implemented by avoiding the use of the cache as the session backend. Instead, consider using other session backends such as database or file-based storage. This can be achieved by modifying the Django project's settings file to specify a different session backend. For example, setting 'SESSION_ENGINE = 'django.contrib.sessions.backends.db' will use the database backend for session storage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Django session modification vulnerability (CVE-2011-4136) allows remote attackers to manipulate sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access or manipulate data within the application. It is crucial to upgrade Django to the recommended versions or implement the provided workaround to mitigate this vulnerability. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
The vulnerability allows remote attackers to modify a session and potentially gain unauthorized access or manipulate data within the application.
Versions of Django prior to 1.2.7 and 1.3.x prior to 1.3.1 are affected by this vulnerability.
The recommended fix is to upgrade Django to version 1.2.7 or later (for Django 1.2.x) or version 1.3.1 or later (for Django 1.3.x).
Yes, a temporary workaround is to avoid using the cache as the session backend and instead use other backends like database or file-based storage.
You can find more information about this vulnerability in the official Django security advisory (link provided in the meta section).
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