CVE-2016-3047 in FileNet Workplace
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in IBM FileNet Workplace 4.0.2 through 4.0.2.14 IF001 allows remote authenticated users to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3047 represents a critical open redirect flaw within IBM FileNet Workplace 4.0.2 through 4.0.2.14 IF001, a document management and collaboration platform widely deployed in enterprise environments. This security weakness enables authenticated attackers to manipulate redirect parameters within the application's web interface, potentially compromising user security through malicious redirection attacks. The vulnerability specifically affects versions of the FileNet Workplace application that were released between 2016 and 2017, making it a legacy issue that continues to pose risks in organizations maintaining older systems.
The technical implementation of this open redirect vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's redirect mechanisms. When users navigate through the FileNet Workplace interface, the system processes redirect parameters that are not adequately validated against a whitelist of approved domains. This allows attackers to construct malicious URLs containing redirect parameters that point to external domains, bypassing the application's built-in security controls. The flaw operates at the application layer, affecting HTTP redirect functionality that is commonly used for navigation between different sections of the application or integration with external services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection capabilities, creating significant risks for enterprise security postures. Remote authenticated users can exploit this weakness to conduct sophisticated phishing attacks by redirecting victims to malicious websites that mimic legitimate FileNet Workplace interfaces or corporate portals. This capability enables attackers to harvest credentials, steal session tokens, or deploy additional malware through social engineering campaigns that appear legitimate to end users. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations where FileNet Workplace is used for document sharing, collaboration, and workflow management, as these environments typically involve multiple authenticated users with varying levels of access privileges.
Organizations affected by CVE-2016-3047 should prioritize immediate remediation through official IBM patches and updates, as the vulnerability has been classified under CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability pattern. The MITRE ATT&CK framework categorizes this issue under T1566 Credential Access through Phishing techniques, highlighting the social engineering aspects of the attack vector. Security teams should implement network monitoring to detect suspicious redirect patterns and consider deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious redirect requests. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying URLs before authentication and reporting suspicious redirection behavior. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and the potential for seemingly minor security flaws to create significant attack vectors for sophisticated social engineering campaigns.