Secure session management
public class Startup
{
public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
{
services.AddDistributedMemoryCache();
services.AddSession(options =>
{
options.IdleTimeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10);
options.Cookie.HttpOnly = true;
options.Cookie.IsEssential = true;
});
services.AddControllersWithViews();
}
public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app, IWebHostEnvironment env)
{
app.UseSession();
app.UseRouting();
app.UseEndpoints(endpoints =>
{
endpoints.MapControllerRoute(
name: "default",
pattern: "{controller=Home}/{action=Index}/{id?}");
});
}
}
The above code represents an insecure session management vulnerability in an ASP.NET Core application. The session is configured in the
ConfigureServices method with an
IdleTimeout of 10 seconds. This means that the session will remain alive for 10 seconds of inactivity.
However, the vulnerability lies in the fact that the session token does not expire when the user terminates the session. This means that even after the user logs out, the session token remains valid for the duration of the
IdleTimeout period. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by intercepting the session token and using it to post requests to the server within the
IdleTimeout period, even after the user has logged out.
This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access and potential data breaches, as an attacker can perform actions on behalf of the logged out user. It is therefore critical to ensure that session tokens are invalidated upon logout to prevent this type of attack.
public class Startup
{
public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
{
services.AddStackExchangeRedisCache(options =>
{
options.Configuration = "localhost";
options.InstanceName = "SampleInstance";
});
services.AddSession(options =>
{
options.IdleTimeout = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(20);
options.Cookie.HttpOnly = true;
options.Cookie.SecurePolicy = CookieSecurePolicy.Always;
options.Cookie.SameSite = SameSiteMode.Strict;
options.Cookie.IsEssential = true;
});
services.AddControllersWithViews();
}
public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app, IWebHostEnvironment env)
{
app.UseSession();
app.UseRouting();
app.UseEndpoints(endpoints =>
{
endpoints.MapControllerRoute(
name: "default",
pattern: "{controller=Home}/{action=Index}/{id?}");
});
}
}
The updated code includes several changes to address the insecure session management vulnerability:
1. Session Storage: The
AddDistributedMemoryCache method has been replaced with
AddStackExchangeRedisCache. This change switches the session storage from an in-memory cache to a distributed Redis cache. This is a more secure option as it allows for session data to be stored across multiple servers, reducing the risk of session data loss and providing better scalability.
2. Session Timeout: The
IdleTimeout property has been set to 20 minutes. This means that the session will automatically expire after 20 minutes of inactivity, preventing the session token from being used indefinitely.
3. Secure Cookie: The
SecurePolicy property has been set to
CookieSecurePolicy.Always. This ensures that the session cookie is only transmitted over HTTPS, protecting it from interception during transmission.
4. SameSite Cookie: The
SameSite property has been set to
SameSiteMode.Strict. This prevents the session cookie from being sent in cross-site requests, protecting against cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks.
5. HttpOnly Cookie: The
HttpOnly property has been set to
true. This prevents client-side scripts from accessing the session cookie, protecting it from cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.
6. Essential Cookie: The
IsEssential property has been set to
true. This ensures that the session cookie is always created, regardless of the user's consent status.
These changes help to secure the session management in the application, reducing the risk of session hijacking and other session-related attacks.