CVE-2015-2014 in Domino Server
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in the web server in IBM Domino 8.5 before 8.5.3 FP6 IF9 and 9.0 before 9.0.1 FP4 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks or cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via a crafted URL, aka SPR SJAR9DNGDA.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2014 represents a critical open redirect flaw within IBM Domino web server implementations that has significant implications for web application security. This vulnerability affects IBM Domino versions 8.5 prior to 8.5.3 FP6 IF9 and 9.0 prior to 9.0.1 FP4, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate user navigation through carefully crafted URLs. The issue manifests as an insufficient validation mechanism in the web server's redirect handling functionality, allowing malicious actors to exploit this weakness for various attack vectors including phishing campaigns and cross-site scripting exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the web server's URL redirection logic. When users encounter links that trigger redirects, the system fails to properly sanitize or verify the destination URLs, enabling attackers to insert malicious domains or scripts into the redirect parameters. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be classified under CWE-601 as "Open Redirect" where the application's redirect functionality can be manipulated to point to malicious websites. The vulnerability specifically impacts the HTTP redirect mechanisms used by the Domino web server, which are commonly employed for authentication flows, session management, and user navigation between applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2014 extends beyond simple redirection attacks, creating opportunities for sophisticated social engineering campaigns and secondary exploitation vectors. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to craft deceptive URLs that appear legitimate but redirect users to phishing sites designed to capture credentials or sensitive information. Additionally, the vulnerability can facilitate cross-site scripting attacks when combined with other weaknesses in the web application stack, as demonstrated through the ATT&CK framework's technique T1566 for "Phishing" and T1203 for "Exploitation for Client Execution." The open redirect condition essentially creates a trust relationship that can be manipulated to bypass security controls and deliver malicious payloads directly to unsuspecting users.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive input validation for all redirect parameters, deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious redirect traffic, and implementation of strict URL validation mechanisms. Security teams should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized redirections and establish monitoring protocols to detect unusual redirect patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for "Application Layer Protocol: DNS" and T1190 for "Exploit Public-Facing Application" as attackers can leverage this weakness through public-facing web interfaces. Organizations must also ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to address the specific fixes released by IBM for versions 8.5.3 FP6 IF9 and 9.0.1 FP4, as these updates contain the necessary validation controls to prevent malicious URL redirection attempts and restore proper security boundaries within the Domino web server implementation.