CVE-2009-4534 in FAQ Ask
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in the FAQ Ask module 5.x and 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 • 12/16/2017
The CVE-2009-4534 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw within the FAQ Ask module for Drupal platforms version 5.x and 6.x prior to 6.x-2.0. This security weakness falls under the category of CWE-601 Open Redirect, which specifically addresses situations where applications fail to properly validate or sanitize user-provided redirect URLs. The vulnerability enables malicious actors to manipulate the module's redirect functionality, creating a pathway for unauthorized redirection of users to attacker-controlled websites. Such flaws are particularly dangerous in web applications as they can be leveraged to execute sophisticated social engineering attacks, including phishing campaigns that exploit user trust in legitimate websites.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the FAQ Ask module's redirect handling mechanisms. Attackers can exploit unspecified vectors within the module's code to inject malicious URLs that will be processed as legitimate redirect targets. When users click on links that trigger the vulnerable redirect functionality, they are unknowingly directed to phishing sites or malicious webpages controlled by attackers. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of web application development, specifically the requirement for proper URL validation and sanitization before any redirect operations are executed. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement within the module's codebase.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection, creating significant risks for both end users and organizations running affected Drupal installations. Users may be tricked into entering sensitive information on phishing sites that appear legitimate due to the redirect mechanism, leading to credential theft, financial fraud, or data breaches. Organizations face reputational damage, regulatory compliance issues, and potential legal consequences from failing to protect user data through proper security controls. The vulnerability also enables attackers to create persistent phishing campaigns that can target large user bases simultaneously, making it particularly dangerous for high-traffic websites. This type of vulnerability directly relates to the ATT&CK technique T1566 Phishing, where attackers use deceptive redirects to compromise user systems and extract sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4534 should prioritize immediate patching of the FAQ Ask module to version 6.x-2.0 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive URL validation mechanisms that verify redirect targets against a whitelist of approved domains or employ strict sanitization techniques to prevent malicious URLs from being processed. Network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious redirect patterns, while security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar flaws in other modules or custom code. The remediation process must include thorough testing of redirect functionality to ensure that legitimate use cases continue to work while malicious redirects are properly blocked. Additionally, organizations should establish security awareness training programs to educate users about recognizing phishing attempts and the importance of verifying website authenticity before entering sensitive information, thereby creating multiple layers of defense against this class of attack.