CVE-2015-1060 in AdaptCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in lib/Cake/Controller/Controller.php in AdaptCMS 3.0.3 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a URL in the HTTP Referer header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1060 represents a critical open redirect flaw within the AdaptCMS content management system version 3.0.3. This security weakness resides in the lib/Cake/Controller/Controller.php file, which forms a fundamental component of the application's request handling mechanism. The vulnerability specifically exploits the improper validation of URL parameters within the HTTP Referer header, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate user navigation flows. This flaw enables attackers to craft deceptive web requests that appear legitimate to users while secretly redirecting them to attacker-controlled domains.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and validation within the controller's redirect functionality. When the application processes HTTP requests, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the Referer header content before using it in redirect operations. This allows attackers to inject malicious URLs that bypass normal access controls and validation checks. The flaw operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the web application's redirect mechanisms that are commonly used for user authentication flows, login redirects, and navigation handling. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-601, which describes open redirect vulnerabilities where applications redirect users to unvalidated external URLs.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1060 extends beyond simple redirection attacks to encompass sophisticated phishing campaigns and social engineering operations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to create convincing phishing pages that appear to originate from legitimate AdaptCMS installations, thereby increasing the success rate of credential theft and data exfiltration attempts. The vulnerability particularly affects user authentication flows where the application might use the Referer header to determine where to redirect users after login operations. This creates a dangerous attack surface where users might be unknowingly redirected from trusted CMS interfaces to malicious sites designed to capture login credentials or install malware. The attack vector operates entirely through HTTP headers without requiring any client-side exploitation or complex injection techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1060 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization for all HTTP headers, particularly the Referer header, ensuring that any URL values are properly validated against a whitelist of trusted domains. The recommended approach involves implementing a domain validation mechanism that checks redirect destinations against a predefined list of approved origins, preventing redirection to external domains that are not explicitly authorized. Security patches should be applied immediately to upgrade AdaptCMS to versions that address this vulnerability, while network-level controls such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving initial access through phishing and credential access through social engineering, making comprehensive security controls essential for defense. The implementation of proper header validation and domain restriction policies should be integrated into the application's security architecture to prevent similar issues in other components of the CMS.