CVE-2014-10030 in FluxBB
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in forums/login.php in FluxBB before 1.4.13 and 1.5.x before 1.5.7 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a URL in the redirect_url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-10030 represents a critical open redirect flaw within the FluxBB forum software ecosystem. This security weakness exists in the login.php script of FluxBB versions prior to 1.4.13 and 1.5.x versions prior to 1.5.7, creating a significant vector for malicious actors to manipulate user navigation and execute deceptive attacks. The vulnerability specifically affects the redirect_url parameter handling within the authentication flow, allowing unauthorized parties to craft malicious URLs that would redirect users to attacker-controlled domains. This flaw fundamentally undermines user trust and security within the forum environment, as legitimate users may be unknowingly directed to fraudulent websites designed to capture credentials or personal information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the FluxBB authentication mechanism. When users attempt to log into the forum, the system processes a redirect_url parameter that should normally direct users back to the original page they were attempting to access before authentication. However, the flawed code fails to properly validate or sanitize this parameter, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary URLs that bypass normal security checks. This weakness aligns with CWE-601, which categorizes open redirect vulnerabilities as a direct result of insufficient validation of redirect destinations. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input filtering practices and highlights the importance of implementing strict destination validation in web applications to prevent malicious redirection scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple navigation manipulation, creating substantial risks for both forum administrators and end users. Attackers can exploit this weakness to conduct sophisticated phishing campaigns by redirecting users to convincing replicas of the legitimate forum interface or other trusted websites. Users who are redirected to these malicious sites may unknowingly enter their credentials, personal information, or other sensitive data, leading to potential account compromises, identity theft, and broader security breaches. The vulnerability also enables attackers to spread malware through redirect chains, as users may be directed to sites hosting malicious software or exploit kits. This open redirect creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged repeatedly, making it particularly dangerous for community-driven platforms where user engagement is high and trust in the platform is paramount.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-10030 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary solution involves upgrading to FluxBB versions 1.4.13 or 1.5.7, which contain the necessary patches to validate and sanitize redirect parameters. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all instances of FluxBB are updated promptly. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing strict URL validation mechanisms that only allow redirects to domains explicitly configured as trusted destinations. The implementation of the OWASP Secure Coding practices and adherence to the principle of least privilege in redirect handling can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious redirect patterns and user behavior anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving social engineering and credential access through phishing, making it a critical target for defensive measures that combine technical controls with user education and awareness programs.