CVE-2015-6012 in Web Reference Database
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple open redirect vulnerabilities in Web Reference Database (aka refbase) through 0.9.6 and bleeding-edge before 2015-01-08 allow remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via the referrer parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2024
The CVE-2015-6012 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw discovered in the Web Reference Database system, commonly known as refbase, affecting versions up to 0.9.6 and bleeding-edge releases prior to January 8, 2015. This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure direct object references and represents a significant security risk that can be exploited by remote attackers to manipulate user navigation and conduct malicious activities. The flaw specifically resides in how the application handles the referrer parameter, which is typically used to track the source of web traffic and maintain user context during navigation. When an application fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters, it creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and redirect users to unintended destinations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged to create convincing phishing attacks, where users are seamlessly redirected from legitimate sites to malicious ones without realizing they have been deceived.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the refbase application's parameter processing logic. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing crafted referrer values that bypass the application's security controls and force the system to redirect users to attacker-controlled domains. This type of vulnerability is classified as CWE-601 under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, which specifically addresses open redirect vulnerabilities where web applications redirect users to external sites without proper validation. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental lack of proper sanitization and validation of user-supplied input, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary URLs that are then processed by the application's redirect functionality. The vulnerability exists because the application does not adequately verify that the redirect destination is within the expected domain or that it conforms to acceptable security policies, creating a pathway for malicious redirection attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-6012 extends beyond simple navigation manipulation and creates significant risks for user security and organizational integrity. When exploited, this vulnerability enables attackers to conduct sophisticated phishing campaigns where victims are redirected to carefully crafted malicious sites that can harvest credentials, install malware, or perform other malicious activities. The open redirect vulnerability creates an ideal environment for social engineering attacks because users are more likely to trust redirects from seemingly legitimate applications, especially when the redirect occurs without explicit user interaction or warning. Organizations using affected versions of refbase face potential reputational damage, user data compromise, and regulatory compliance issues if the vulnerability is exploited. The vulnerability can be particularly effective in targeted attacks where attackers craft specific redirect URLs that mimic legitimate organizational sites, making it difficult for users to distinguish between genuine and malicious redirects. This type of vulnerability also provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks, as initial redirection can be used to establish initial access or to deliver additional malicious payloads.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6012 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the application. The primary fix involves implementing strict validation and sanitization of all redirect parameters, ensuring that only URLs within predetermined trusted domains are accepted for redirection. Organizations should implement a whitelist approach for redirect destinations, rejecting any external URLs that do not match established security policies. Additionally, developers should employ proper input validation techniques that verify the legitimacy of redirect URLs and implement proper encoding and escaping mechanisms to prevent injection attacks. Security controls should include monitoring for suspicious redirect patterns and implementing automated detection mechanisms that can identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar flaws. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of protection such as content security policies and web application firewalls to provide defense-in-depth against redirect-based attacks. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of validating all user inputs and ensuring that applications properly handle external references to prevent attackers from manipulating user navigation and conducting malicious activities.