CVE-2017-16569 in Zurmo
Summary
by MITRE
An Open URL Redirect issue exists in Zurmo 3.2.1.57987acc3018 via an http: URL in the redirectUrl parameter to app/index.php/meetings/default/createMeeting.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2017-16569 represents a critical open redirect flaw in the Zurmo customer relationship management platform version 3.2.1.57987acc3018. This issue manifests through the manipulation of the redirectUrl parameter within the app/index.php/meetings/default/createMeeting endpoint, allowing attackers to craft malicious URLs that redirect users to arbitrary external destinations. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied redirect parameters, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the application's redirection functionality for nefarious purposes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly validate or sanitize the redirectUrl parameter before processing it as a redirection target. When a user submits a request containing a malicious URL in the redirectUrl field, the application accepts this input without adequate verification, allowing the redirect to proceed to the attacker-controlled destination. This behavior aligns with CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability classification, which specifically addresses situations where applications redirect users to external sites without proper validation, creating opportunities for phishing attacks, credential theft, and other malicious activities. The vulnerability operates at the application logic level where user input is directly used in redirection decisions without proper security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection, creating significant security risks for organizations utilizing Zurmo. Attackers can leverage this flaw to construct deceptive URLs that appear legitimate to end users, potentially leading to successful phishing campaigns where victims are redirected to malicious sites designed to steal credentials or install malware. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass security controls by exploiting the application's own redirection mechanisms, making the attack more convincing and harder to detect. This type of vulnerability particularly affects web applications where user authentication and session management are critical components, as it can be used to manipulate user sessions or direct them to compromised sites that mimic legitimate application interfaces.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of mitigation to address this vulnerability effectively. The primary defense involves validating and sanitizing all redirect parameters against a whitelist of approved domains or implementing strict URL validation that rejects external redirects entirely. Input validation should be enforced at the application level, ensuring that redirect URLs conform to expected patterns and do not contain suspicious protocols or domains. Security controls should include implementing proper access controls and authentication checks before any redirection occurs, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's mitigation strategies for web application vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security testing and code reviews to identify similar patterns in other application components, as this vulnerability type often appears in web applications that handle user-supplied redirect parameters. The remediation process requires immediate patching of the vulnerable application version, implementation of proper input validation mechanisms, and comprehensive security awareness training for developers to prevent similar issues in future code development cycles.