CVE-2012-4842 in Lotus Domino
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in the web server in IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.x through 8.5.3 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 • 04/26/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4842 represents a critical open redirect flaw within IBM Lotus Domino web server implementations across versions 8.5 through 8.5.3. This security weakness enables remote attackers to manipulate web server behavior by crafting malicious URLs that redirect users to arbitrary destinations, creating significant risks for organizations relying on Domino for web services. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of redirect parameters within the web server's handling of user requests, allowing attackers to exploit this oversight for malicious purposes.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the web server's failure to properly sanitize or validate redirect URLs that are processed through its internal routing mechanisms. Attackers can construct specially crafted URLs that contain redirect parameters pointing to malicious domains, bypassing normal security controls that would typically prevent such redirection. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web server component of Lotus Domino, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that depend on Domino's web capabilities for business operations and user interactions. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple entry points or parameter handling methods within the web server could be exploited, increasing the attack surface and complexity of mitigation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection, creating opportunities for sophisticated phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks. When users encounter manipulated links that appear legitimate but redirect to malicious sites, they may unknowingly provide sensitive information or download malware. Organizations using Lotus Domino for internal communications, customer portals, or web applications face heightened risk as attackers can exploit this vulnerability to compromise user credentials, steal confidential data, or disrupt business operations. The vulnerability also undermines user trust in the organization's web services, potentially leading to reputational damage and regulatory compliance issues.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4842 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization of redirect parameters within the web server configuration. Organizations should update to patched versions of IBM Lotus Domino where available, as IBM would have released security fixes addressing this specific vulnerability. Network-level controls such as web application firewalls and URL filtering systems can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and blocking suspicious redirect patterns. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of all web applications hosted on Domino servers to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in custom code or third-party integrations. The implementation of proper access controls and user education programs can help reduce the impact of successful phishing attempts that exploit this vulnerability.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-601 open redirect weakness classification, which specifically addresses the risk of applications redirecting users to untrusted domains without proper validation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving initial access through phishing and social engineering, as well as privilege escalation through credential theft. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws in web server components can create significant security risks when exploited by threat actors, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive security testing and validation of all web application components. Organizations should treat this vulnerability as part of a broader security posture assessment to identify and address similar weaknesses in their web infrastructure and application code.