CVE-2015-1578 in U5cms
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple open redirect vulnerabilities in u5CMS before 3.9.4 allow remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a URL in the (1) pidvesa cookie to u5admin/pidvesa.php or (2) uri parameter to u5admin/meta2.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2025
The CVE-2015-1578 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw in u5CMS versions prior to 3.9.4, exposing systems to sophisticated phishing and social engineering attacks. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the content management system's administrative interfaces, specifically targeting two distinct entry points that process user-supplied URL parameters. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the application's redirect behavior by injecting malicious URLs through cookie values or parameter inputs, creating a pathway for unauthorized redirection that can be exploited to deceive users into visiting malicious websites.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the improper sanitization of user-controllable input fields within the u5CMS administrative components. When the application processes the pidvesa cookie value in u5admin/pidvesa.php or the uri parameter in u5admin/meta2.php, it fails to validate or sanitize the incoming URL data before executing redirect operations. This lack of input validation creates a direct path for attackers to inject arbitrary URLs that will be processed by the browser's redirect mechanism. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601, which specifically addresses open redirect vulnerabilities where applications fail to validate redirect URLs, and it maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 related to credential access through phishing with a malicious link.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection, creating significant security risks for organizations using affected u5CMS installations. Attackers can leverage this flaw to craft convincing phishing campaigns that appear legitimate, as the redirect targets often originate from trusted administrative interfaces. Users who click on malicious links may be directed to sites designed to harvest credentials, install malware, or perform other malicious activities. The vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on user trust in administrative interfaces, as the redirect originates from what appears to be a legitimate system management component, making it difficult for users to distinguish between genuine and malicious redirects.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to u5CMS version 3.9.4 or later, which contains the necessary input validation patches. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict URL validation mechanisms within the application code, employing a whitelist approach for redirect destinations, and configuring proper input sanitization for all cookie and parameter values. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense by monitoring and blocking suspicious redirect patterns. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potential open redirect vulnerabilities within their web applications, as this class of flaw often appears in applications with insufficient input validation across multiple components. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that legitimate redirect functionality remains operational while eliminating the attack vectors that enable malicious redirection.