CVE-2015-0512 in Unisphere Central
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in EMC Unisphere Central before 4.0 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via an unspecified parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2022
The CVE-2015-0512 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw discovered in EMC Unisphere Central versions prior to 4.0, fundamentally compromising user security through malicious web redirection. This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure direct object reference and unvalidated redirects as outlined in CWE-601, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate user navigation through unspecified parameters within the application's web interface. The flaw specifically affects the centralized management platform used for EMC storage systems, making it particularly dangerous given the sensitive nature of storage infrastructure management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the Unisphere Central application's parameter handling processes. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs that contain redirect parameters pointing to attacker-controlled domains, thereby enabling the execution of sophisticated phishing campaigns. The unspecified parameter nature suggests that multiple entry points within the application's web framework could potentially be leveraged, increasing the attack surface and making detection more challenging for security administrators. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through web-based attack vectors without requiring privileged access to the underlying storage infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple redirection, as it provides attackers with a foundation for conducting sophisticated social engineering campaigns. Users accessing the compromised Unisphere Central interface could be unknowingly redirected to malicious websites designed to capture credentials or install malware, particularly targeting system administrators who frequently interact with storage management consoles. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to critical storage infrastructure, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within enterprise networks where storage systems are integral components. Organizations relying on EMC Unisphere Central for their storage management operations face significant risk exposure, as this vulnerability undermines the trust model of the application's web interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0512 should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of EMC Unisphere Central version 4.0 or later, which includes proper input validation and redirect parameter sanitization. Security teams should implement network-level controls such as web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious redirect parameters, while also conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential entry points within the storage management ecosystem. The implementation of strict redirect validation policies, including whitelisting approved domains and employing secure redirect mechanisms, should be enforced across all web applications managing critical infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to raise awareness about phishing indicators and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing open redirect vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the attack pattern catalog under the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly in the context of initial access and credential access phases where attackers leverage web-based vulnerabilities to establish footholds within target environments.