CVE-2017-14523 in Wonder
Summary
by MITRE
WonderCMS 2.3.1 is vulnerable to an HTTP Host header injection attack. It uses user-entered values to redirect pages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14523 affects WonderCMS version 2.3.1 and represents a critical security flaw related to improper input validation and header handling within the content management system. This issue manifests as an HTTP Host header injection attack vector that allows malicious actors to manipulate the Host header in HTTP requests to influence application behavior. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize or validate user-provided input that is subsequently used in redirect operations, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit the system's redirect functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when WonderCMS processes user-entered data within redirect mechanisms without adequate validation or sanitization of the Host header value. When a user provides input that gets incorporated into a redirect URL, the application fails to properly escape or validate this data, allowing an attacker to inject malicious Host header values. This flaw directly relates to CWE-113, which describes improper neutralization of characters or elements within input data that can be interpreted as control elements by the application. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the application's redirect behavior to point to malicious domains, potentially facilitating phishing attacks, credential theft, or other malicious activities.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WonderCMS users and administrators who may be unaware of the potential for Host header manipulation. Attackers can exploit this weakness to redirect users to malicious websites, potentially stealing session cookies, credentials, or other sensitive information. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate redirect functionality within the application, making it more difficult to detect and prevent. This vulnerability can be exploited in various attack scenarios including cross-site scripting attacks, session hijacking, and man-in-the-middle attacks, especially when combined with other vulnerabilities or when the application is deployed in environments where such attacks are more likely to succeed.
The security implications extend beyond simple redirection attacks as this vulnerability can be used as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the application ecosystem. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as credential access and defense evasion, as attackers can use the redirect functionality to mask malicious activities while collecting user credentials or session information. Organizations using WonderCMS 2.3.1 should immediately implement mitigations including input validation for all user-provided data used in redirect operations, proper header sanitization, and the implementation of strict redirect policies that validate target domains against a whitelist. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls and proper header validation at the application level should be deployed to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate patching of WonderCMS to version 2.3.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the Host header injection issue. Administrators should also implement proper input validation mechanisms that sanitize all user-provided data used in redirect operations, ensuring that Host header values are properly escaped or validated before being processed. Organizations should conduct thorough security reviews of all redirect mechanisms within their applications to identify similar vulnerabilities and implement consistent security controls across their entire application portfolio. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and header handling in web applications, particularly those that rely on user-provided data for redirect operations or other security-sensitive functions.