CVE-2017-5614 in cgiemail
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in cgiemail and cgiecho allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via vectors involving the (1) success or (2) failure parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2020
The CVE-2017-5614 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw found in the cgiemail and cgiecho web applications, which are commonly used for processing form submissions and echo commands on web servers. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of redirect parameters within the application's response mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate user navigation. The flaw exists in the way these applications process the success and failure parameters, which are typically used to redirect users after form submission or command execution. When these parameters are not properly validated or sanitized, attackers can inject malicious URLs that will be executed as redirects, leading to unauthorized user redirection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the cgiemail and cgiecho scripts. These applications accept user-supplied parameters that are then used to construct redirect URLs without proper sanitization or verification of the target destinations. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes the success or failure parameter values and directly incorporates them into HTTP redirect headers without sufficient validation. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-601, which specifically addresses open redirect vulnerabilities where applications redirect users to untrusted domains. The vulnerability can be exploited through simple parameter manipulation in URLs, making it particularly dangerous as it requires minimal technical expertise to execute successful attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5614 extends beyond simple redirection, creating significant risks for organizations that deploy these applications in production environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to conduct sophisticated phishing campaigns by redirecting users to malicious domains that mimic legitimate websites, thereby stealing credentials or sensitive information. The open redirect mechanism provides attackers with a reliable method to establish trust with victims, as users are often hesitant to question legitimate-looking redirects from known applications. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on these CGI scripts for user interaction, potentially compromising entire user sessions and enabling further attacks such as session hijacking or credential theft. The risk is amplified in environments where users frequently interact with web forms or where these applications are used in corporate or financial contexts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5614 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameter sanitization within the affected applications. Organizations should ensure that all redirect parameters are validated against a whitelist of approved domains or are properly encoded to prevent malicious URL injection. The implementation of proper URL validation mechanisms, including checking for absolute URLs and ensuring that redirect targets are within the application's trusted domain, forms a critical defensive measure. Security practitioners should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers and monitoring for suspicious redirect patterns in web application logs. From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering tactics using phishing, where the open redirect serves as a delivery mechanism for malicious payloads. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of all CGI applications and ensure that proper patch management procedures are in place to address similar vulnerabilities in other legacy web applications.