CVE-2015-5510 in Content Construction Kit
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in the Content Construction Kit (CCK) 6.x-2.x before 6.x-2.10 for Drupal allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via the destinations parameter, related to administration pages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2017
The CVE-2015-5510 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw within the Content Construction Kit module for Drupal 6.x-2.x versions prior to 6.x-2.10. This security weakness resides in the module's handling of the destinations parameter within administration pages, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate user navigation flows. The vulnerability specifically affects the CCK module's administrative functionality where user input is not properly validated or sanitized before being used to construct redirect URLs. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious URLs that include crafted destination parameters, enabling them to redirect users to arbitrary web sites without their knowledge or consent.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the Drupal CCK module's administrative interfaces. When administrators or users interact with certain administrative pages, the module accepts user-supplied destination parameters directly without proper sanitization or validation. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled input can be seamlessly integrated into redirect logic, bypassing normal security checks that would typically prevent such redirects. The flaw operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the module's URL redirection mechanisms rather than underlying infrastructure components. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-601 as an open redirect vulnerability, which is a well-documented weakness in web application security where applications fail to validate or sanitize user-provided redirect URLs, allowing attackers to craft malicious links that redirect users to phishing sites or malicious domains.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5510 extends beyond simple redirection attacks, as it provides attackers with a vector for sophisticated phishing campaigns and social engineering operations. When users are redirected to malicious sites through compromised administrative pages, they may unknowingly provide sensitive information such as login credentials, personal data, or financial details to attackers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within administrative contexts where users expect to be on legitimate sites, making it easier for attackers to gain trust and extract valuable information. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes the use of malicious links in phishing campaigns, and T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that many Drupal installations rely on CCK for content management, making the vulnerability widespread across various web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5510 primarily focus on immediate patching of the affected CCK module to version 6.x-2.10 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization for destination parameters. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as validating all redirect URLs against a whitelist of approved domains, implementing strict input sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, and monitoring administrative access logs for suspicious redirect patterns. Network-level defenses can include web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious redirect attempts, while application-level controls should enforce proper URL validation and ensure that redirect destinations are always verified against trusted sources. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in other modules or components that might exhibit similar open redirect behaviors, as this vulnerability type is commonly found in web applications where user input is not properly validated before being used in URL construction. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in legitimate functionality while maintaining the security improvements that address the core vulnerability.