CVE-2014-3739 in Zenoss
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in zport/acl_users/cookieAuthHelper/login_form in Zenoss 4.2.5 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a URL in the came_from parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3739 represents a critical open redirect flaw within the Zenoss monitoring platform version 4.2.5. This issue specifically affects the cookieAuthHelper login form component located at zport/acl_users/cookieAuthHelper/login_form, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this monitoring solution. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation of the came_from parameter, which is commonly used in authentication flows to redirect users back to their intended destination after successful login. When attackers exploit this weakness, they can manipulate the came_from parameter to redirect authenticated users to malicious websites, effectively enabling sophisticated phishing attacks that can compromise user credentials and system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-601, which categorizes open redirect vulnerabilities as weaknesses where web applications fail to validate or sanitize user-supplied redirect URLs. In the context of Zenoss 4.2.5, the application processes the came_from parameter without proper validation, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary URLs that bypass the application's normal redirect logic. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically impacts the authentication flow, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited during the login process when users are most likely to trust the application interface. The vulnerability is classified as a remote attack vector since no local access or authentication is required to exploit the flaw, making it accessible to any attacker with knowledge of the target system's URL structure.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2014-3739 extends beyond simple redirection, creating a gateway for more sophisticated attack vectors including credential harvesting, malware distribution, and social engineering campaigns. Attackers can craft convincing phishing pages that appear to be legitimate Zenoss login interfaces, tricking users into entering credentials that are then captured by the malicious site. The vulnerability also enables man-in-the-middle attacks where users are redirected to attacker-controlled domains, potentially compromising sensitive monitoring data and system configurations. Organizations using Zenoss 4.2.5 face elevated risk of unauthorized access and data breaches, particularly in environments where monitoring systems contain sensitive operational data. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that this vulnerability can be exploited in conjunction with other attacks, such as cross-site scripting or session hijacking, creating multi-vector attack scenarios that can bypass traditional security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3739 should focus on implementing strict input validation and URL sanitization for all redirect parameters within the authentication flow. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Zenoss versions that address this vulnerability, as the vendor has released patches to resolve the issue. Additionally, implementing proper URL validation that only allows redirection to trusted domains within the application's own ecosystem can prevent exploitation. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious redirect patterns, while conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other authentication components. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that all redirect functionality properly validates URLs and that unauthorized redirection attempts are properly blocked. Organizations should also implement user education programs to help staff recognize phishing attempts and understand the risks associated with clicking on suspicious links, particularly in the context of monitoring and management interfaces that users frequently access. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in authentication systems and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers phishing attacks that leverage open redirect vulnerabilities to direct users to malicious sites.