CVE-2014-1991 in WebPlatform
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in WebPlatform / AppFramework 6.0 through 7.2 in NTT DATA INTRAMART intra-mart allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via unspecified vectors.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1991 represents a critical open redirect flaw within the WebPlatform/AppFramework components of NTT DATA INTRAMART intra-mart versions 6.0 through 7.2. This security weakness enables remote attackers to manipulate user navigation by redirecting them to malicious websites, thereby creating significant risks for phishing and social engineering attacks. The vulnerability exists in the application's handling of redirect parameters, where input validation is insufficient to prevent unauthorized redirection to external domains.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization and validation of redirect URLs within the framework's authentication and navigation mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious URLs containing redirect parameters that point to attacker-controlled domains. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly validate the destination URL against a whitelist of approved domains or when it accepts any URL without sufficient security checks. This type of flaw commonly falls under CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability category, which is classified as a weak point in web application security where user-provided input is used to determine redirect destinations without proper validation.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-1991 extends beyond simple redirection attacks, as it provides threat actors with a foundation for more sophisticated phishing campaigns. Users who click on maliciously crafted links may be redirected to convincing replicas of legitimate banking or corporate websites, potentially leading to credential theft, financial fraud, or corporate data breaches. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where intra-mart applications are used for internal communications and authentication, as it can bypass user security awareness and corporate security controls. This type of attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 Phishing, where the initial compromise occurs through deceptive redirects that lead users to malicious sites.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing strict input validation and domain whitelisting for all redirect operations. Organizations should configure their applications to only allow redirection to predetermined, trusted domains and implement comprehensive URL validation routines that check both the scheme and domain components of redirect targets. Security patches and updates from NTT DATA should be applied immediately to address this vulnerability, as the affected versions represent a significant risk to organizational security. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual redirect patterns and potential exploitation attempts, while security awareness training should be reinforced to help users recognize and report suspicious redirection attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications and highlights how seemingly simple flaws can create substantial security risks when exploited in targeted attacks.