CVE-2014-7294 in OpenSSO Integration
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in the logon page in NYU OpenSSO Integration 2.1 and earlier for Ex Libris Patron Directory Services (PDS) allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a URL in the url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7294 represents a critical open redirect flaw in the authentication mechanism of NYU OpenSSO Integration version 2.1 and earlier implementations within Ex Libris Patron Directory Services. This security weakness resides specifically within the logon page functionality where user authentication redirects are processed. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the url parameter that is passed during the authentication flow, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to manipulate the redirect behavior. According to CWE-601 standards, this vulnerability directly maps to open redirect vulnerabilities where applications fail to validate redirect destinations, potentially allowing attackers to craft malicious URLs that redirect users to attacker-controlled domains. The attack vector leverages the inherent trust users place in legitimate authentication portals, making it particularly dangerous for phishing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the authentication redirect logic. When users attempt to access protected resources through the Patron Directory Services platform, the system processes a url parameter that should contain the destination page after successful authentication. However, the application does not adequately verify that this parameter references a legitimate internal domain or path, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary URLs. The flaw operates at the application layer and specifically affects the session management and authentication flow components of the software stack. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when developers assume that redirect parameters are inherently safe or fail to implement proper domain validation checks before processing redirect requests. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it occurs during the initial authentication phase, when users are most likely to trust the legitimacy of the system they are interacting with.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations using Ex Libris Patron Directory Services with NYU OpenSSO Integration. Attackers can exploit this weakness to craft deceptive login pages that appear legitimate to users but redirect them to phishing sites designed to capture credentials or personal information. The phishing attacks can be highly convincing since they originate from what appears to be a trusted institutional authentication system. Users may be redirected to malicious domains that mimic the legitimate library or institutional website interface, making credential theft more likely. The vulnerability affects the entire user authentication flow and can potentially compromise multiple user sessions if exploited at scale. Organizations with extensive patron directory services implementations face elevated risk of credential theft, data breaches, and reputational damage. This weakness particularly impacts the integrity of user authentication processes and can undermine the security posture of entire library management systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7294 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and redirect destination verification mechanisms. Organizations should implement strict domain validation checks that ensure redirect parameters only reference approved internal domains or implement a whitelist approach for redirect destinations. The recommended solution involves modifying the authentication flow to validate that the url parameter contains only trusted domains or absolute paths within the organization's infrastructure. Security patches should be applied to upgrade to versions of NYU OpenSSO Integration that address this vulnerability, or alternative authentication mechanisms should be implemented. According to ATT&CK framework T1566.002, this vulnerability aligns with phishing techniques that leverage open redirects to deliver malicious payloads. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as implementing secure redirect libraries, conducting regular security assessments of authentication flows, and monitoring for suspicious redirect patterns. Network-level controls including web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious redirect attempts, while user education programs can help reduce the success rate of social engineering attacks that exploit this vulnerability. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that all redirect functionality operates correctly while maintaining security controls.