CVE-2016-8949 in Emptoris Supplier Lifecycle Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Emptoris Supplier Lifecycle Management 10.0.x and 10.1.x could allow a remote attacker to conduct phishing attacks, using an open redirect attack. By persuading a victim to visit a specially-crafted Web site, a remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to spoof the URL displayed to redirect a user to a malicious Web site that would appear to be trusted. This could allow the attacker to obtain highly sensitive information or conduct further attacks against the victim. IBM X-Force ID: 118836.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2021
This vulnerability exists within IBM Emptoris Supplier Lifecycle Management versions 10.0.x and 10.1.x, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute open redirect attacks. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of redirect parameters within the web application's URL handling mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate user navigation. When a user encounters a crafted web link, the application fails to properly validate the destination URL, allowing attackers to redirect victims to malicious sites while maintaining the appearance of legitimate navigation. This particular flaw aligns with CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability classification, which specifically addresses insecure redirection mechanisms that can be exploited to direct users to untrusted domains.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple phishing attempts, as it provides attackers with a sophisticated vector for information theft and further compromise. Users who are tricked into clicking malicious links will experience apparent legitimate navigation to trusted domains while actually being redirected to attacker-controlled sites. This deception allows adversaries to harvest sensitive credentials, personal information, or corporate data through seemingly trustworthy interfaces. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers with varying levels of expertise. The attack vector operates entirely through web-based interactions, eliminating the need for complex network penetration techniques or physical access to target systems.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 Phishing and T1071.1001 Application Layer Protocol HTTP. The open redirect mechanism creates an ideal environment for social engineering campaigns where attackers can craft deceptive URLs that appear to originate from legitimate business domains. The vulnerability affects not only individual user sessions but potentially corporate networks, as compromised users may access sensitive supplier management systems containing confidential business information, financial data, and supplier relationships. IBM's X-Force ID 118836 indicates the severity of this issue within their threat intelligence framework, reflecting the potential for significant business disruption and data compromise.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls that strictly validate redirect destinations against approved domain lists, implementation of security headers such as Referrer-Policy and Content-Security-Policy to prevent unauthorized redirects, and comprehensive user education about suspicious link behavior. The most effective remediation approach involves patching the application to version 10.2.x or later where IBM has addressed the redirect validation mechanisms. Network-level controls such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection by monitoring and blocking suspicious redirect patterns. Security teams should also conduct thorough penetration testing to identify any other potential redirect vulnerabilities within the supplier management ecosystem, as similar flaws may exist in related components. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to maintain ongoing protection against evolving attack vectors targeting web application frameworks.