CVE-2016-0204 in Cloud Orchestrator
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in IBM Cloud Orchestrator 2.4.x before 2.4.0 FP3 allows remote authenticated users to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via unspecified vectors.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0204 represents a critical open redirect flaw within IBM Cloud Orchestrator version 2.4.x prior to 2.4.0 FP3. This security weakness enables remote authenticated attackers to manipulate web application redirects, potentially leading to serious phishing and social engineering attacks. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of redirect parameters, allowing malicious actors to craft URLs that would redirect legitimate users to attacker-controlled domains without proper authorization or user awareness.
Open redirect vulnerabilities occur when applications fail to properly validate or sanitize redirect URLs, particularly those used in authentication flows or access control mechanisms. In the context of IBM Cloud Orchestrator, this flaw exists in the application's handling of redirect parameters that are typically used for legitimate purposes such as returning users to their original destination after authentication. However, due to inadequate input validation, attackers can exploit this weakness to redirect users to malicious websites, potentially capturing credentials or sensitive information through sophisticated phishing campaigns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection attacks, as it can be leveraged as a stepping stone for more complex exploitation techniques. Attackers can craft convincing phishing pages that appear to originate from trusted IBM Cloud Orchestrator interfaces, making it difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate and malicious redirects. This vulnerability specifically affects authenticated users, meaning that attackers must first establish some level of access to the system, but once achieved, they can manipulate the application's redirect functionality to compromise user sessions or harvest credentials.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-601, which specifically addresses open redirect vulnerabilities in web applications. The flaw represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to security breaches, particularly in enterprise cloud platforms where users trust the application interface for sensitive operations. The vulnerability's classification as an authenticated issue means that it requires user credentials to exploit, but once exploited, it can provide attackers with significant control over user navigation and potentially sensitive session data.
The attack vector for this vulnerability typically involves crafting specially formatted URLs that contain malicious redirect parameters, which are then processed by the IBM Cloud Orchestrator application. When authenticated users click on these links, they are seamlessly redirected to attacker-controlled domains without proper warning or verification. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently interact with cloud-based orchestration platforms and may not be trained to recognize suspicious redirect behavior.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected IBM Cloud Orchestrator installations to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the 2.4.0 FP3 update or later versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Additionally, network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect suspicious redirect patterns and consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can identify and block malicious redirect attempts. Security awareness training for users should emphasize the importance of verifying destination URLs even when they appear to come from trusted sources, as this vulnerability can be effectively exploited through social engineering techniques that rely on user trust in familiar interfaces.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of proper input validation in web applications and the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle. Organizations should ensure that all redirect functionality is properly validated against a whitelist of approved domains, and that users receive appropriate warnings when redirection occurs. This vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor security flaws in authentication and access control systems can create significant risks when exploited in combination with social engineering tactics, making it essential for security teams to maintain vigilance against such threats in enterprise cloud environments.