CVE-2009-3784 in Simplenews Statistics
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in Simplenews Statistics 6.x before 6.x-2.0, a module for Drupal, allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3784 represents a critical open redirect flaw within the Simplenews Statistics module for Drupal version 6.x prior to 6.x-2.0. This security weakness enables remote attackers to manipulate user redirection behavior through unspecified vectors, creating significant risks for web application security. The vulnerability specifically affects the Drupal content management system ecosystem where Simplenews Statistics module is installed, making it a concern for organizations relying on Drupal 6.x platforms for their web presence.
The technical flaw manifests as an improper input validation mechanism that fails to adequately sanitize or verify redirect URLs within the module's functionality. When users interact with the Simplenews Statistics module, the application processes redirect parameters without sufficient validation, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary URLs that will be used for redirection. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-601 category of URL Redirect to Untrusted Site Attack, where the application's redirect functionality becomes a vector for malicious redirection. The vulnerability's classification aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes the use of malicious redirects for phishing attacks, demonstrating how this flaw can be exploited to compromise user security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection, as it creates opportunities for sophisticated phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that appear legitimate to users, potentially leading to credential theft, malware distribution, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability's exploitation capability makes it particularly dangerous in environments where users trust the organization's web applications, as the redirect mechanism can be used to direct users to attacker-controlled domains that mimic legitimate services. This creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on email marketing or newsletter systems, as the Simplenews Statistics module may be used in contexts where user trust is paramount.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the upgrade to Simplenews Statistics module version 6.x-2.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the open redirect flaw. The mitigation strategy should also include implementing proper input validation mechanisms for all redirect parameters within the Drupal platform, ensuring that any URL redirection adheres to strict validation rules. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other modules or components that may exhibit similar redirect vulnerabilities, particularly in legacy Drupal 6.x installations where patch management may be incomplete. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls with redirect validation capabilities, monitoring for suspicious redirection patterns, and conducting regular security audits to prevent exploitation attempts that leverage this class of vulnerability.