CVE-2015-3898 in BPM Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple open redirect vulnerabilities in Bonita BPM Portal before 6.5.3 allow remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via vectors involving the redirectUrl parameter to (1) bonita/login.jsp or (2) bonita/loginservice.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2024
The CVE-2015-3898 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw affecting Bonita BPM Portal versions prior to 6.5.3, creating significant security risks for organizations utilizing this business process management platform. This vulnerability resides in the authentication handling mechanisms of the portal, specifically within the redirectUrl parameter processing logic that governs user navigation after login operations. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the redirectUrl parameter to direct users toward malicious websites, exploiting the trust relationship between the legitimate Bonita portal and its users. The vulnerability manifests in two primary attack vectors targeting the bonita/login.jsp and bonita/loginservice endpoints, both of which are fundamental components in the portal's authentication workflow and user access control mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the Bonita BPM Portal's authentication subsystem. When users attempt to access protected resources or complete login processes, the system accepts the redirectUrl parameter without proper validation of the target URL's legitimacy or origin. This parameter validation failure creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious URLs that will be executed upon user authentication completion. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability classification, which specifically addresses situations where web applications redirect users to untrusted destinations without proper validation. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through simple HTTP requests, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no sophisticated attack techniques beyond basic web request manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3898 extends beyond simple phishing attacks, creating a comprehensive threat landscape for organizations using vulnerable Bonita BPM Portal installations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to conduct sophisticated social engineering campaigns by redirecting authenticated users to malicious sites that mimic legitimate Bonita interfaces or corporate portals. This capability enables credential theft, malware distribution, and data exfiltration attempts that can compromise entire corporate networks. The vulnerability particularly threatens organizations with significant Bonita BPM deployments, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to business process workflows, sensitive process data, and potentially escalate to broader system compromise. From an attack chain perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including initial access through phishing, credential access via stolen session information, and privilege escalation if the compromised user has elevated permissions within the Bonita environment.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including patching to Bonita BPM Portal version 6.5.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the redirectUrl parameter validation. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict URL validation policies within the application firewall, configuring web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious redirect patterns, and establishing network-level controls to prevent access to known malicious domains. Security teams should also conduct thorough penetration testing to identify any additional redirect vulnerabilities within the organization's broader application ecosystem, as this vulnerability type often appears in similar authentication flows across different platforms. The remediation process should include comprehensive security configuration reviews and user education programs to raise awareness about the signs of phishing attempts that might exploit such vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of potential credential compromise, and establish monitoring procedures to detect unusual redirect patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.