CVE-2017-1534 in Security Access Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Access Manager Appliance 8.0.0 and 9.0.0 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: 130676.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1534 affects IBM Security Access Manager Appliance versions 8.0.0 and 9.0.0, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute open redirect attacks. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-601 category of URL Redirection to Untrusted Site, which is classified as a serious weakness in web application security. The flaw allows adversaries to manipulate the redirect functionality of the appliance to direct users toward malicious websites while maintaining the appearance of legitimate trusted domains.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of redirect URLs within the IBM Security Access Manager Appliance. When users interact with specially crafted web pages that leverage the appliance's redirect mechanism, attackers can manipulate the target URL parameter to point to malicious domains. The appliance fails to properly verify that redirect destinations originate from trusted sources, creating an opening for attackers to craft deceptive web content that appears legitimate to end users. This weakness operates at the application layer and can be exploited through web-based attack vectors without requiring any special privileges or authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple phishing attempts to encompass broader attack surface expansion and potential data exfiltration. When victims are redirected to attacker-controlled sites, they may unknowingly provide sensitive credentials, personal information, or financial data to malicious actors. The deception occurs because the redirect URL appears to come from a trusted source within the legitimate organization's domain, making social engineering attacks significantly more effective. This vulnerability directly enables credential theft, session hijacking, and can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks including malware distribution and additional exploitation phases.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including strict URL validation controls, implementing proper referer header checks, and deploying web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious redirect patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential harvesting through phishing attacks. Additional protective measures include regular security assessments of web applications, implementing content security policies, and conducting user awareness training to recognize suspicious redirects. Organizations should also consider network-level controls to monitor for unusual redirect patterns and maintain up-to-date threat intelligence feeds to identify malicious domains associated with such attacks. The remediation process requires careful application of patches provided by IBM and thorough testing of redirect functionality to ensure that legitimate business operations remain unaffected while eliminating the security gap that enables this open redirect vulnerability.