CVE-2008-6511 in Openfire
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in login.jsp in Openfire 3.6.0a and earlier allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via the url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The CVE-2008-6511 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw discovered in Openfire 3.6.0a and earlier versions, specifically within the login.jsp component. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of the url parameter, which is used to redirect users after successful authentication. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the redirect mechanism by supplying malicious URLs in the url parameter, potentially enabling them to redirect authenticated users to attacker-controlled websites.
This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the authentication flow of the Openfire messaging platform. The technical implementation flaw occurs when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the url parameter before using it in the redirect logic. The absence of proper input validation means that any URL provided by an attacker can be processed and executed as a legitimate redirect target. This creates a dangerous condition where users who have authenticated to the system can be unknowingly redirected to phishing sites, malicious domains, or other attacker-controlled resources. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it occurs during the authentication process, when users are already logged in and potentially trusting the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection, creating significant security risks for organizations using vulnerable Openfire installations. Attackers can leverage this flaw to conduct sophisticated phishing campaigns by redirecting users to carefully crafted malicious sites that mimic legitimate authentication portals or corporate resources. The vulnerability enables man-in-the-middle attacks where users are redirected to attacker-controlled domains while maintaining the appearance of legitimate system access. This can result in credential theft, data exfiltration, and further compromise of the organization's communication infrastructure. Additionally, the vulnerability undermines user trust in the system's security and can lead to reputational damage for organizations that fail to patch this known vulnerability.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for Openfire 3.6.0a and later versions, which address the input validation issue in the login.jsp component. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and filter suspicious redirect parameters, though this represents a secondary defense mechanism. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601, which specifically addresses open redirect vulnerabilities in web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access through phishing and social engineering, potentially enabling initial access or privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to raise awareness about suspicious redirects and phishing attempts, while maintaining regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in their communication infrastructure.