CVE-2003-1311 in SiteMinder
Summary
by MITRE
siteminderagent/SmMakeCookie.ccc in Netegrity SiteMinder does not ensure that the TARGET parameter names a valid redirection resource, which allows remote attackers to construct a URL that might trick users into visiting an arbitrary web site referenced by this parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1311 resides within the Netegrity SiteMinder siteminderagent component, specifically in the SmMakeCookie.ccc module. This flaw represents a classic open redirect vulnerability that undermines the security controls designed to protect users from malicious redirection attacks. The vulnerability occurs when the application fails to validate the TARGET parameter before using it in a redirect operation, creating an opportunity for attackers to manipulate the redirection target.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the SiteMinder agent's cookie creation process. When processing authentication requests, the system accepts a TARGET parameter that specifies where users should be redirected after successful authentication. However, the validation logic does not properly verify that this target parameter references a legitimate and authorized resource within the application's domain. This oversight allows attackers to craft malicious URLs with crafted TARGET parameters that point to external domains or malicious websites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables man-in-the-middle attack scenarios and phishing attempts. Attackers can construct deceptive URLs that appear to originate from legitimate SiteMinder-protected applications while actually redirecting users to malicious sites. This creates a trust exploitation vector where users are tricked into believing they are navigating to authorized resources when they are actually being redirected to attacker-controlled domains. The vulnerability essentially bypasses the intended security boundaries of the authentication system.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-601, which defines open redirect vulnerabilities in web applications. The flaw also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically the sub-technique T1566.001 for "Phishing with Spoofed Content," as it enables attackers to create convincing phishing scenarios. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate security controls for redirect operations, which are fundamental requirements for maintaining web application security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-1311 should focus on implementing strict validation of redirect targets within the SiteMinder agent configuration. Organizations should enforce that all TARGET parameters are validated against a whitelist of approved domains or implement proper URL parsing to ensure targets remain within the application's trusted scope. Additionally, the system should implement proper encoding and sanitization of redirect parameters to prevent malicious content injection. Regular security assessments should verify that all redirect operations properly validate their targets, and organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious redirect patterns. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of validating all user-supplied input in authentication and authorization flows, particularly when dealing with redirect operations that can compromise user trust and security boundaries.