CVE-2011-2941 in JBoss
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Portal Platform before 5.2.0 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a URL in the initialURI parameter.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2941 represents a critical open redirect flaw within the Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Portal Platform version 5.2.0 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the platform's handling of user navigation parameters, specifically in the initialURI parameter that governs the redirection behavior after authentication or other portal operations. The vulnerability enables malicious actors to manipulate the portal's redirection mechanism by injecting crafted URLs into the initialURI parameter, thereby creating a pathway for unauthorized redirection of users to external web domains.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the portal's authentication and navigation components. When the platform processes user requests containing the initialURI parameter, it fails to properly validate the URL format and destination, allowing attackers to specify arbitrary web addresses that users will be redirected to upon completing portal operations. This validation gap creates a persistent security risk where the portal acts as an unwitting intermediary in malicious redirection campaigns, effectively bypassing the platform's normal security controls and access restrictions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection attacks, creating significant risks for organizations utilizing the JBoss Enterprise Portal Platform. Attackers can leverage this flaw to conduct sophisticated phishing operations by redirecting users to malicious websites that appear legitimate, potentially capturing credentials, personal information, or corporate data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application level, making it difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring approaches. Organizations may experience reputational damage, data breaches, and potential compliance violations when users are unknowingly redirected to malicious sites through the compromised portal infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2941 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems to the 5.2.0 release or later versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures to sanitize all user-supplied URL parameters, particularly those used in redirection contexts. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by monitoring and blocking suspicious redirection patterns. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected platform and ensure proper configuration of access controls. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability classification and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework's TA0011 Command and Control category, specifically targeting techniques related to phishing and credential theft through deceptive redirection mechanisms.