CVE-2008-0613 in XOOPS
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in htdocs/user.php in XOOPS 2.0.18 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a URL in the xoops_redirect parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2024
The CVE-2008-0613 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw discovered in the XOOPS content management system version 2.0.18. This vulnerability specifically affects the htdocs/user.php script where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input parameters. The vulnerability manifests when the xoops_redirect parameter is manipulated by an attacker, allowing them to inject malicious URLs that will be processed and executed by the vulnerable application. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-601 Open Redirect, which is classified as a security weakness that occurs when an application redirects users to external websites without proper validation of the destination URL.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the XOOPS user authentication and redirection mechanism. When a user attempts to access protected resources or performs certain actions within the application, the system may redirect them to a specified URL through the xoops_redirect parameter. However, the application does not verify whether the provided URL belongs to the legitimate domain or contains malicious redirection targets. This allows attackers to craft deceptive links that appear to originate from trusted XOOPS domains while actually directing users to phishing sites or malicious content hosted on external servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple redirection capabilities and creates significant security risks for organizations using affected XOOPS installations. Attackers can exploit this weakness to conduct sophisticated phishing campaigns by creating links that appear legitimate but redirect users to credential harvesting sites. The vulnerability enables man-in-the-middle attacks where users are unknowingly redirected to malicious domains that can capture login credentials, personal information, or financial data. Additionally, the open redirect can be leveraged for social engineering attacks, where attackers use the legitimate application appearance to gain user trust while simultaneously executing malicious payloads. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 Phishing, as it provides attackers with a method to create convincing phishing URLs that bypass basic security measures.
Organizations with affected XOOPS installations face substantial risk of user data compromise and reputational damage when this vulnerability remains unaddressed. The impact is particularly severe because the vulnerability affects core authentication functionality, meaning that any user interaction with the application could potentially lead to redirection to malicious sites. Security professionals should consider implementing immediate mitigations including input validation, URL sanitization, and the implementation of allowlists for valid redirect destinations. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper parameter validation in web applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create significant security exposure. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious redirect patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of validating all user-supplied input and implementing robust security controls around redirection mechanisms in web applications.