CVE-2013-7335 in DotNetNuke
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in DotNetNuke (DNN) before 6.2.9 and 7.x before 7.1.1 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via unspecified vectors.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
The CVE-2013-7335 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw discovered in DotNetNuke content management systems prior to specific version releases. This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure redirection mechanisms that have been classified as CWE-601 by the Common Weakness Enumeration project. The flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate web application redirect functionality in ways that can compromise user security and enable sophisticated phishing campaigns. The vulnerability affects both the 6.x series before version 6.2.9 and the 7.x series before version 7.1.1, indicating a widespread impact across multiple major releases of the DNN platform.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the redirect handling mechanisms of the DotNetNuke framework. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs that contain redirect parameters pointing to external domains. When users click on these manipulated links, the application fails to properly validate the target URLs, allowing the redirect to proceed to attacker-controlled websites. This opens the door for various malicious activities including credential harvesting through phishing pages, distribution of malware, and social engineering attacks that leverage the perceived trust in the legitimate DNN application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection attacks, as it can be leveraged in conjunction with other attack vectors to create more sophisticated threats. Security researchers have noted that such open redirect vulnerabilities align with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the 'Initial Access' and 'Credential Access' phases. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations using older versions of DNN where administrators may not have implemented proper security monitoring or web application firewalls to detect and prevent such malicious redirects. The impact is compounded by the fact that these redirects can appear legitimate to end users, making user education and awareness crucial components of defense strategy.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official patch releases provided by DNN Corporation. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to DotNetNuke versions 6.2.9 or 7.1.1, which contain proper input validation and redirect handling mechanisms. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with custom rules to monitor and block suspicious redirect patterns can provide an additional layer of protection. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of all redirect parameters within their DNN applications and implement proper URL validation routines that verify target domains against approved lists. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing proper input validation as outlined in industry best practices for secure web application development.