CVE-2015-7428 in WebSphere Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in IBM WebSphere Portal 8.0.x before 8.0.0.1 CF20 and 8.5.x before 8.5.0.0 CF09 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7428 represents a critical open redirect flaw within IBM WebSphere Portal software versions 8.0.x prior to 8.0.0.1 CF20 and 8.5.x prior to 8.5.0.0 CF09. This security weakness enables remote attackers to manipulate the portal's redirection functionality by crafting malicious URLs that direct users to arbitrary web destinations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of redirect parameters within the portal's URL handling mechanisms, allowing attackers to exploit the system's trust in its own redirect functionality.
From a technical perspective, the flaw manifests when the WebSphere Portal processes user-supplied redirect URLs without proper sanitization or validation of the target destination. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-601 as an open redirect vulnerability, where the application accepts user input that controls the redirect destination without adequate verification. Attackers can construct URLs that appear legitimate within the portal context but actually redirect users to malicious sites, exploiting the trust users place in the portal's domain. The implementation typically involves parameters such as redirect_url, target, or similar fields that are processed without sufficient input validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection attacks, creating significant risks for organizations relying on WebSphere Portal for enterprise web applications. Attackers can leverage this weakness to conduct sophisticated phishing campaigns by redirecting users to credential harvesting pages that mimic legitimate portal interfaces. The attack surface is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where portal systems often serve as central authentication points and contain sensitive business data. Users may be unaware they are being redirected to malicious sites, especially when the initial portal URL appears legitimate and the redirect occurs seamlessly within the browser context.
Organizations implementing IBM WebSphere Portal should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of the vendor-provided security fixes and patches. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the specific cumulative fixes CF20 for 8.0.x versions and CF09 for 8.5.x versions, which address the input validation gaps in the redirect functionality. Security teams should also implement network-level controls to monitor and filter suspicious redirect patterns, though this represents a secondary defense mechanism. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) and T1566.002 (Phishing: Spearphishing Link), demonstrating how open redirect vulnerabilities can facilitate social engineering attacks. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing URL validation policies and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other web applications within their infrastructure.