CVE-2008-1547 in Exchange Server
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in exchweb/bin/redir.asp in Microsoft Outlook Web Access (OWA) for Exchange Server 2003 SP2 (aka build 6.5.7638) allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a URL in the URL parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1547 represents a critical open redirect flaw within Microsoft Outlook Web Access version 6.5.7638, specifically affecting Exchange Server 2003 SP2 installations. This security weakness resides in the exchweb/bin/redir.asp component of the web application, which processes user navigation requests through the URL parameter. The flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate the redirection mechanism and direct unsuspecting users to attacker-controlled websites, creating a significant vector for social engineering and phishing operations.
This vulnerability operates through a fundamental flaw in input validation and output encoding practices within the OWA redirection logic. When users access the affected system and provide a URL parameter to the redir.asp script, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before using it to construct redirect headers. The absence of proper validation allows attackers to inject malicious URLs that bypass the intended security boundaries of the Exchange environment. This weakness directly aligns with CWE-601, which categorizes open redirect vulnerabilities as a critical issue where applications redirect users to untrusted domains without proper verification. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to create a deceptive user experience where legitimate-looking URLs from trusted Exchange servers can redirect to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection, creating a substantial risk for enterprise security environments. Attackers can exploit this flaw to conduct sophisticated phishing campaigns by crafting URLs that appear to originate from legitimate Exchange servers, making it difficult for users to distinguish between authentic and malicious redirects. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in corporate environments where users frequently access Exchange servers for email and calendar services, as the perceived legitimacy of the redirection source significantly increases the likelihood of user deception. This attack vector can be leveraged to harvest credentials, deploy malware, or gather sensitive information from unsuspecting employees, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threat campaigns.
The security implications of CVE-2008-1547 align with multiple tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to initial access and credential access phases. The vulnerability can be classified under T1566 for phishing attacks and T1078 for valid accounts usage, as attackers can leverage the legitimate redirection mechanism to gain unauthorized access to user sessions. Organizations implementing Exchange Server 2003 SP2 are particularly vulnerable due to the age of the platform and lack of modern security controls. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices that have been addressed in subsequent security frameworks and standards, including the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines that emphasize the importance of proper validation and sanitization of user inputs. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including URL parameter validation, explicit redirect whitelisting, and user education programs to reduce the risk of exploitation. Additionally, network-level controls such as web application firewalls and strict access controls can provide additional layers of protection against this specific attack vector.