CVE-2013-4723 in Cm3 Acora Content Management System
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in DDSN Interactive cm3 Acora CMS 6.0.6/1a, 6.0.2/1a, 5.5.7/12b, 5.5.0/1b-p1, and possibly other versions allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a URL in the l parameter to track.aspx.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The CVE-2013-4723 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw discovered in the DDSN Interactive cm3 Acora CMS versions 6.0.6/1a, 6.0.2/1a, 5.5.7/12b, 5.5.0/1b-p1, and potentially other affected releases. This vulnerability resides within the track.aspx web page which processes user input through the l parameter, creating a dangerous pathway for malicious actors to exploit. The flaw operates by failing to properly validate or sanitize URL parameters before using them for redirection purposes, allowing attackers to craft malicious links that appear legitimate to end users while redirecting them to attacker-controlled domains.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the CMS's redirection mechanism. When the l parameter is passed to track.aspx without adequate sanitization, the application blindly accepts and processes the supplied URL value, effectively creating a trust boundary violation where user-supplied input directly controls the destination of web traffic. This weakness aligns with CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability classification, which specifically addresses situations where applications redirect users to external sites without sufficient validation of the target URL. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and represents a classic example of insecure redirection practices that have been documented in numerous security frameworks and standards.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing the affected CMS versions, as it enables sophisticated phishing attacks and social engineering campaigns. Attackers can craft deceptive URLs that appear to originate from legitimate sources within the organization's domain, making it difficult for users to distinguish between authentic and malicious redirects. The impact extends beyond simple phishing attempts, as successful exploitation could lead to credential theft, malware distribution, or further exploitation of the compromised user sessions. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on tracking or analytics functionality, where the redirection mechanism becomes a vector for malicious activity.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. The primary remediation involves proper input validation and sanitization of all URL parameters before processing them for redirection purposes, ensuring that only known good URLs or specific domain patterns are accepted. Additionally, implementing a whitelist approach for redirect destinations, where only predetermined trusted domains are allowed, provides an additional security barrier. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes, as this issue demonstrates how seemingly minor input handling flaws can create significant security risks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious redirect patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation in preventing common web application security flaws that can be exploited for various malicious purposes.