CVE-2017-20164 in Seed
Summary
by MITRE • 01/09/2023
A vulnerability was found in Symbiote Seed up to 6.0.2. It has been classified as critical. Affected is the function onBeforeSecurityLogin of the file code/extensions/SecurityLoginExtension.php of the component Login. The manipulation of the argument URL leads to open redirect. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. Upgrading to version 6.0.3 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is b065ebd82da53009d273aa7e989191f701485244. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. VDB-217626 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-20164 resides within the Symbiote Seed framework version 6.0.2 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables attackers to manipulate the application's redirect functionality. This vulnerability specifically targets the onBeforeSecurityLogin function located in the code/extensions/SecurityLoginExtension.php file, which is part of the Login component. The flaw manifests when an attacker can manipulate the URL argument passed to this function, creating an open redirect condition that allows malicious redirection of users to arbitrary destinations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the security login extension. When users attempt to log in to the system, the onBeforeSecurityLogin function processes the URL parameter without proper verification of its destination, allowing attackers to craft malicious URLs that redirect users to phishing sites or other malicious resources. This open redirect vulnerability operates at the application level and can be exploited through web-based attacks, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no special privileges or access to the system itself. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-601 as an Open Redirect vulnerability, which is categorized as a high-risk weakness in web application security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection, as it can be leveraged to conduct sophisticated social engineering attacks and phishing campaigns. Attackers can craft deceptive URLs that appear legitimate to users, potentially tricking them into revealing sensitive credentials or personal information. The remote exploitability of this vulnerability means that attackers can initiate attacks from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Phishing, where attackers use malicious links to gain unauthorized access to systems. The open redirect can also be used to bypass security controls, as users may not realize they are being redirected to a different domain, especially if the redirection occurs during authentication flows.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2017-20164 involves upgrading the Symbiote Seed framework to version 6.0.3 or later, which includes the patch identified by the commit hash b065ebd82da53009d273aa7e989191f701485244. This patch addresses the root cause by implementing proper URL validation and sanitization within the onBeforeSecurityLogin function. Organizations should immediately implement this upgrade as a priority, as the vulnerability is rated critical and provides attackers with a straightforward path to compromise user sessions. Additional mitigations include implementing proper input validation at all application entry points, configuring web application firewalls to monitor for suspicious redirect patterns, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. The patch demonstrates the importance of proper security coding practices and input validation, as the vulnerability could have been prevented through proper URL parameter sanitization and domain validation checks. Security teams should also consider implementing user education programs to help identify potential phishing attempts that may exploit this vulnerability.