CVE-2014-0925 in Sterling Control Center
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in IBM Sterling Control Center 5.4.0 before 5.4.0.1 iFix 3 and 5.4.1 before 5.4.1.0 iFix 2 allows remote authenticated users to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a crafted URL.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0925 represents a critical open redirect flaw in IBM Sterling Control Center versions 5.4.0 through 5.4.0.1 iFix 2 and 5.4.1 through 5.4.1.0 iFix 1. This security weakness enables authenticated attackers to manipulate the application's redirect functionality and direct users to malicious websites. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the application's URL handling mechanisms, specifically in the redirect parameters that are processed without proper sanitization or verification of destination URLs. The flaw exists at the application layer and affects the web interface components of the Sterling Control Center system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application processes user-supplied URLs in redirect operations without validating whether the target destination is within the trusted domain or application scope. This allows attackers who have authenticated access to the system to craft malicious URLs that contain arbitrary redirect targets. When victims click on these manipulated links, they are seamlessly redirected to attacker-controlled websites without proper warning or user consent. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication flow and session management components of the application, creating an avenue for social engineering attacks. From a cybersecurity perspective, this issue maps to CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability where the application fails to validate redirect destinations, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 Phishing via Social Media within the initial access phase.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection attacks, creating significant risks for organizations using IBM Sterling Control Center. Attackers can leverage this flaw to conduct sophisticated phishing campaigns where legitimate-looking URLs redirect users to credential harvesting sites, potentially compromising user accounts and gaining access to sensitive enterprise data. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers do not require external network access or exploitation of unauthenticated vulnerabilities to execute their attacks. This vulnerability undermines the trust model of the application and can lead to data breaches, privilege escalation, and unauthorized access to enterprise resources. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues and reputational damage if attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability to compromise user credentials or sensitive business information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0925 should focus on immediate patch deployment to the affected IBM Sterling Control Center versions, specifically applying the recommended iFixes that address the open redirect vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network-level controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious redirect patterns, though this represents a secondary defense measure. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected software within their environment and ensure proper access controls are in place to limit authentication privileges. Additionally, user awareness training should be enhanced to educate personnel about recognizing potential phishing attempts and suspicious URL redirections. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper security hardening practices in web applications, emphasizing the need for secure coding practices that prevent unauthorized redirection scenarios. Organizations should also consider implementing additional logging and monitoring for redirect operations to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain audit trails for security incident response activities.