CVE-2015-5210 in Ambari
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in Apache Ambari before 2.1.2 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a URL in the targetURI parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5210 represents a critical open redirect flaw within Apache Ambari versions prior to 2.1.2, constituting a significant security risk that enables remote attackers to manipulate user navigation and potentially execute sophisticated phishing operations. This vulnerability resides in the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the Ambari management interface, which is commonly deployed in big data environments for cluster management and monitoring purposes. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes the targetURI parameter within URL redirection logic, allowing malicious actors to craft deceptive URLs that appear legitimate while directing users to attacker-controlled domains.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the Ambari web application's redirect functionality. When users attempt to access protected resources or navigate through the management interface, the system constructs redirect URLs that incorporate user-supplied parameters without proper verification of their destination. This weakness permits attackers to inject arbitrary URLs into the targetURI parameter, bypassing normal access controls and redirecting authenticated users to malicious websites. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and affects the web server component of Ambari, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where administrators frequently access the management interface with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5210 extends beyond simple redirection, creating a fertile ground for sophisticated social engineering attacks that can compromise entire enterprise networks. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to craft convincing phishing pages that mimic legitimate Ambari interfaces, potentially capturing administrator credentials or deploying malware through infected user sessions. The risk is amplified in environments where Ambari is used to manage critical data infrastructure, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with unauthorized access to cluster configurations, data access controls, and operational parameters. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability classification and maps to attack patterns within the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1566 credential harvesting techniques, specifically targeting the initial access phase through deceptive redirects.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the deployment of Apache Ambari version 2.1.2 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization of redirect parameters. Additional mitigations include implementing network-level restrictions on access to the Ambari management interface, configuring proper firewall rules to limit external exposure, and establishing robust monitoring for suspicious redirect patterns in web application logs. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls with custom rules to detect and block malicious redirect attempts, while conducting comprehensive security awareness training for administrators to recognize potential phishing attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications and underscores the necessity of following secure coding practices that prevent common attack vectors such as open redirects, which remain prevalent in enterprise software environments.