CVE-2012-4982 in CounterACT
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in assets/login on the Forescout CounterACT NAC device before 7.0 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a URL in the a parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2024
The CVE-2012-4982 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw discovered in the Forescout CounterACT Network Access Control device series prior to version 7.0. This vulnerability specifically affects the authentication login endpoint at assets/login where the application fails to properly validate user-supplied URLs before redirecting users. The flaw exists within the parameter handling mechanism where the 'a' parameter is processed without adequate sanitization or validation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the redirection behavior of the authentication system.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-601 open redirect weakness category, which is classified as a security misconfiguration where web applications fail to validate redirect URLs before executing redirections. The specific implementation flaw allows remote attackers to craft malicious URLs containing crafted parameters that will cause the system to redirect users to attacker-controlled domains. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates at the authentication layer, where users are already in a trusted state expecting to interact with legitimate authentication services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables sophisticated phishing attacks and social engineering campaigns. Attackers can exploit the open redirect to redirect authenticated users to malicious domains that appear legitimate, potentially capturing credentials or other sensitive information. The vulnerability affects the core authentication flow of the CounterACT NAC device, which is designed to control network access and manage security policies, making it an attractive target for threat actors seeking to compromise network security. The attack can be executed without requiring any special privileges or authentication, as the vulnerability exists in the public-facing login interface.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of the vendor-provided security patches or updates to version 7.0 and later, which address the improper URL validation in the authentication redirect mechanism. Network administrators should implement additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious redirect patterns, and establish monitoring for unusual redirect behavior in authentication logs. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper secure coding practices, particularly in authentication and session management components. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their NAC solutions to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure that all network access control systems maintain proper validation of redirect URLs to prevent attackers from exploiting these pathways for unauthorized access or data exfiltration.