CVE-2017-1000163 in Phoenix
Summary
by MITRE
The Phoenix Framework versions 1.0.0 through 1.0.4, 1.1.0 through 1.1.6, 1.2.0, 1.2.2 and 1.3.0-rc.0 are vulnerable to unvalidated URL redirection, which may result in phishing or social engineering attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1000163 affects the Phoenix Framework, a web application framework written in elixir that is widely used for building scalable and maintainable web applications. This issue specifically impacts versions ranging from 1.0.0 through 1.0.4, 1.1.0 through 1.1.6, 1.2.0, 1.2.2, and 1.3.0-rc.0, creating a significant security risk for applications built using these framework versions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of redirect URLs, which allows malicious actors to exploit the framework's redirection mechanisms for unauthorized purposes.
The technical flaw manifests in the framework's handling of URL redirection functionality where it fails to properly validate the destination URLs before performing redirects. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious links that appear legitimate but redirect users to phishing sites or other malicious destinations. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including crafted HTTP requests, manipulated session parameters, or maliciously constructed URLs within application forms. The lack of input validation means that any URL passed to the framework's redirect functions is accepted without proper verification of its legitimacy or safety.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple phishing attacks, as it provides attackers with a mechanism to conduct sophisticated social engineering campaigns. When users are redirected to malicious sites through seemingly legitimate application interfaces, they may unknowingly provide sensitive information or download malicious software. This vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users trust the application interface and may not recognize the redirection as suspicious. The attack surface is broad since any application using the affected Phoenix Framework versions and implementing redirect functionality is potentially vulnerable, making this a widespread concern across numerous web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through framework version upgrades to versions that have addressed the validation issue. Organizations should also implement proper input validation measures at the application level, ensuring that all redirect URLs are verified against a whitelist of approved domains or properly sanitized before processing. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by monitoring and blocking suspicious redirect patterns. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-601 which specifically addresses URL redirection vulnerabilities and falls under the attack pattern category of CWE-79 which covers cross-site scripting attacks that can be facilitated through improper redirect handling. Security teams should also consider implementing user awareness training to help identify potential phishing attempts that may leverage this vulnerability, as well as regular security audits to ensure proper validation mechanisms are in place throughout the application codebase.