CVE-2014-9363 in Quick
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in the path-based meta tag editing form in the Meta tags quick module 7.x-2.x before 7.x-2.8 for Drupal allows remote authenticated users to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via the destination parameter.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2022
The CVE-2014-9363 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw within the Meta tags quick module for Drupal, specifically affecting versions 7.x-2.x prior to 7.x-2.8. This vulnerability resides in the path-based meta tag editing form where the module fails to properly validate or sanitize the destination parameter, creating a security loophole that can be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw is particularly concerning because it affects authenticated users, meaning that attackers who have gained access to legitimate user accounts can leverage this vulnerability to manipulate the application's redirect behavior.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the module's form handling mechanism. When users navigate to the meta tag editing form, the module processes the destination parameter without sufficient sanitization, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary URLs that will be used in subsequent redirects. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-601, which specifically addresses open redirect vulnerabilities where applications redirect users to untrusted domains. The flaw essentially creates a trust relationship manipulation scenario where legitimate user sessions can be exploited to redirect users to malicious websites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant and multifaceted. Remote authenticated users can exploit this weakness to conduct sophisticated phishing attacks by redirecting victims to carefully crafted malicious websites that mimic legitimate domains. This creates a dangerous attack surface where users who are logged into trusted Drupal sites can be unknowingly redirected to sites designed to steal credentials, personal information, or install malware. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may have elevated privileges or access to sensitive data, as the redirect can be used to target high-value accounts.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers phishing attacks through social engineering. The open redirect can be combined with other attack vectors to create more effective social engineering campaigns where victims are redirected from trusted sites to malicious ones. The module's authentication requirement does not provide sufficient protection since once an attacker has valid credentials, they can exploit this vulnerability without requiring additional privileges or complex attack chains. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of this vulnerability, as the remediation involves updating to version 7.x-2.8 or later where proper input validation has been implemented.
The broader implications extend beyond immediate exploitation, as this vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices that could affect other components of the Drupal ecosystem. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all modules that handle user-supplied redirect parameters to identify similar vulnerabilities. The attack vector is particularly relevant in environments where users frequently interact with web applications that may not properly validate redirect destinations, making this a critical issue for web application security posture assessments.