Medium

Serendipity has a Host Header Injection allows authentication cookie scoping to attacker-controlled domain in functions_config.inc.php

  • Disclosed: 14.04.2026
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 10:22

Summary

The serendipity_setCookie() function uses $_SERVER['HTTP_HOST'] without validation as the domain parameter of setcookie(). An attacker can force authentication cookies — including session tokens and auto-login tokens — to be scoped to an attacker-controlled domain, facilitating session hijacking.

Details

In include/functions_config.inc.php:726:

php
function serendipity_setCookie($name, $value, $securebyprot = true, ...) {
    $host = $_SERVER['HTTP_HOST']; // ← attacker-controlled, no validation

    if ($securebyprot) {
        if ($pos = strpos($host, ":")) {
            $host = substr($host, 0, $pos); // strips port only
        }
    }

    setcookie("serendipity[$name]", $value, [
        'domain'   => $host,   // ← poisoned domain
        'httponly' => $httpOnly,
        'samesite' => 'Strict'
    ]);
}

This function is called during login with sensitive cookies:

php
// functions_config.inc.php:455-498
serendipity_setCookie('author_autologintoken', $rnd, true, false, true);
serendipity_setCookie('author_username', $user);
serendipity_setCookie('author_token', $hash);

If an attacker can influence the Host header at login time (e.g. via MITM, reverse proxy misconfiguration, or load balancer), authentication cookies are issued scoped to the attacker's domain instead of the legitimate one.

PoC

bash
curl -v -X POST \
  -H "Host: attacker.com" \
  -d "serendipity[user]=admin&serendipity[pass]=admin" \
  http://[TARGET]/serendipity_admin.php 2>&1 | grep -i "set-cookie"

Expected output:

http
Set-Cookie: serendipity[author_token]=; domain=attacker.com; HttpOnly

Impact

  • Session fixation — attacker pre-sets a cookie scoped to their domain, then tricks the victim into authenticating, inheriting the poisoned token
  • Token leakage — author_autologintoken scoped to wrong domain may be sent to attacker-controlled infrastructure
  • Privilege escalation — if admin logs in under a poisoned Host header, their admin token is compromised

Suggested Fix

Validate HTTP_HOST against the configured $serendipity['url'] before use:

php
function serendipity_setCookie($name, $value, ...) {
    global $serendipity;
    $configured = parse_url($serendipity['url'], PHP_URL_HOST);
    $host = preg_replace('/:[0-9]+$/', '', $_SERVER['HTTP_HOST']);
    $host = ($host === $configured) ? $host : $configured;

    setcookie("serendipity[$name]", $value, [
        'domain' => $host,
        ...
    ]);
}

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
Composer package s9y/serendipity < 2.6.0 2.6.0

References

CVSS score 6.9/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-565
Platform
Composer
Package
s9y/serendipity
Disclosed
14.04.2026
Updated
11.10.2026 10:22

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-4m6c-649p-f6gf - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: s9y/serendipity

All published vulnerabilities of this package (Composer package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.

Total entries
2
First → latest
04.2026 04.2026
Without a fix
0
Exploited in attacks
0

Severity breakdown

  • High 1
  • Medium 1

Disclosures per year

  1. 2026: 2
  1. Serendipity has a Host Header Injection allows authentication cookie scoping to attacker-controlled domain in functions_config.inc.php this entry
    Medium · 6.9 CVE-2026-39963 < 2.6.0 2.6.0

Know which vulnerabilities affect your application

With the DockRay integration and software inventory enabled, DockRay checks reported component versions against known vulnerabilities and notifies you about confirmed matches. Coverage depends on the supported technology and available advisory data.

Connect your application
DockRay newsletter

Application security in your inbox

Important vulnerabilities, actionable guidance and practical advice for your applications. Choose your technologies and follow what matters to your project.

  • A daily digest of new vulnerabilities, critical ones included.
  • Notifications about important updates.
  • Practical advice on application security and monitoring.

Leave empty to receive updates for every technology.

Free to subscribe. Unsubscribe with one click in any email.