CVE-2015-5503 in Integration Module
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in the Chamilo integration module 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.2 for Drupal allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via unspecified parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2017
The CVE-2015-5503 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw within the Chamilo integration module for Drupal version 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.2. This security weakness resides in the module's handling of user input parameters that control redirection behavior, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate web traffic and deceive users into visiting unintended destinations. The vulnerability specifically affects the integration capabilities between Chamilo learning management system and Drupal content management platforms, making it particularly dangerous in educational and enterprise environments where such integrations are common.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the module's insufficient validation and sanitization of redirect parameters passed through HTTP requests. When users navigate through the integrated Chamilo and Drupal systems, the application fails to properly verify that redirect URLs originate from trusted sources or match expected patterns. This allows attackers to craft malicious URLs containing crafted redirect parameters that bypass normal security checks, enabling them to redirect users to phishing sites, malicious domains, or other attacker-controlled resources. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship between the integrated systems, making it particularly effective for social engineering attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations using the affected Chamilo integration module. Attackers can exploit the flaw to conduct sophisticated phishing campaigns by redirecting users to carefully crafted malicious websites that mimic legitimate educational portals or administrative interfaces. The attack vector is particularly effective because users are often unaware they are being redirected, especially when the initial redirect appears to come from a trusted domain within the organization. This vulnerability can lead to credential theft, data exfiltration, and broader compromise of the integrated systems, making it a serious concern for educational institutions and organizations managing sensitive user data.
Organizations should immediately update to Chamilo integration module version 7.x-1.2 or later to address this vulnerability, as no reliable workarounds exist for the flaw. The remediation process involves applying the official security patch provided by the module developers, which typically includes enhanced input validation and strict URL verification mechanisms. Security teams should also implement network-level monitoring to detect suspicious redirect patterns and consider implementing web application firewalls to block known malicious redirect attempts. Additionally, administrators should review and audit all integration modules to identify similar vulnerabilities, as this class of weakness often appears in applications that handle user redirects. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601 open redirect weakness and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through phishing, highlighting its potential for significant operational impact in targeted attack scenarios.