CVE-2015-10102 in Freshdesk Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/17/2023
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Freshdesk Plugin 1.7 on WordPress. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality. The manipulation leads to open redirect. The attack may be launched remotely. Upgrading to version 1.8 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is 2aaecd4e0c7c6c1dc4e6a593163d5f7aa0fa5d5b. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. VDB-226118 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-10102 represents a critical security flaw in the Freshdesk WordPress plugin version 1.7 that enables open redirect attacks. This issue stems from insufficient input validation within the plugin's functionality, allowing malicious actors to manipulate redirect parameters and potentially direct users to malicious websites. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the plugin's handling of user-provided redirect URLs, creating a pathway for phishing attacks and credential theft. The open redirect vulnerability falls under CWE-601, which specifically addresses URL redirection to untrusted websites, making it a significant concern for web application security.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through remote attack vectors, meaning that malicious actors can trigger the flaw without requiring physical access to the target system. The attack typically involves crafting specially formatted URLs that contain malicious redirect parameters, which when processed by the vulnerable plugin, lead users to unintended destinations. This type of vulnerability enables attackers to perform social engineering campaigns more effectively, as users may be deceived into visiting malicious sites that appear to be legitimate extensions of the original website. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates that it can be exploited without authentication and that the impact on user security is substantial.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using the Freshdesk plugin, as it can facilitate various malicious activities including credential harvesting, malware distribution, and reputation damage. The open redirect mechanism allows attackers to create convincing fake login pages or redirect users to sites hosting malicious content, making it particularly dangerous for enterprises that rely on the plugin for customer support operations. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also organizational security postures, as compromised user sessions can lead to broader system infiltration. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers phishing attacks and social engineering methods that leverage URL manipulation.
The recommended remediation involves upgrading the Freshdesk plugin to version 1.8, which includes the patch identified by the commit hash 2aaecd4e0c7c6c1dc4e6a593163d5f7aa0fa5d5b. This upgrade process should be implemented promptly across all affected WordPress installations to ensure complete protection. Security administrators should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other instances of the vulnerable plugin within their infrastructure. The patch addresses the root cause by implementing proper input validation and sanitization of redirect parameters, preventing malicious URLs from being processed by the plugin's redirect functionality. Organizations should verify that the upgrade was successful and monitor their systems for any unusual redirect behavior that might indicate incomplete remediation or additional vulnerabilities.