CVE-2011-0908 in Forums
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in Vanilla Forums before 2.0.17.6 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a URL in the Target parameter to an unspecified component, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-0526.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0908 represents a critical open redirect flaw within Vanilla Forums software versions prior to 2.0.17.6. This security weakness enables remote attackers to manipulate user redirection behavior by crafting malicious URLs that exploit a vulnerable Target parameter within an unspecified component of the application. The flaw operates by failing to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before using it to determine redirect destinations, creating an avenue for malicious actors to direct unsuspecting users toward fraudulent websites.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the Vanilla Forums platform. When users encounter links that contain the Target parameter, the application processes this parameter without sufficient sanitization checks, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary URLs that will be used for redirection. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-601, which specifically addresses URL redirect vulnerabilities and the potential for open redirect attacks that can be exploited for social engineering purposes. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices where user-controllable data is directly incorporated into redirect logic without proper authorization checks or URL validation.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0908 extends beyond simple redirection functionality, creating significant security risks for organizations utilizing Vanilla Forums. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to conduct sophisticated phishing campaigns by redirecting users to counterfeit login pages or malicious websites that appear legitimate. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass security awareness training by exploiting the trust users place in familiar forum interfaces. This particular weakness is distinct from CVE-2011-0526, indicating that multiple redirect-related vulnerabilities exist within the same software ecosystem, highlighting potential architectural flaws in the application's security design. Organizations may experience reputational damage, data breaches, and user trust erosion when such vulnerabilities are exploited in the wild.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of Vanilla Forums installations to version 2.0.17.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the open redirect flaw. Security teams should implement comprehensive input validation measures that sanitize all user-supplied parameters before processing them in redirect operations. The implementation of a whitelist approach for redirect destinations, combined with proper URL validation and domain checking, can prevent unauthorized redirections. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls with rules specifically designed to detect and block suspicious redirect patterns. Additionally, security monitoring should include detection of unusual redirect activities and user behavior anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through phishing and manipulation of web redirects. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security testing of all redirect functionality to prevent similar issues from emerging in other components of the application.