CVE-2017-7266 in Security Monkey
Summary
by MITRE
Netflix Security Monkey before 0.8.0 has an Open Redirect. The logout functionality accepted the "next" parameter which then redirects to any domain irrespective of the Host header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7266 represents a critical open redirect flaw in Netflix Security Monkey version 0.8.0 and earlier. This security weakness specifically affects the application's logout functionality, where the system improperly validates the "next" parameter that is used to determine the destination URL after a user logs out. The flaw stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize or validate external input, allowing attackers to manipulate the redirect behavior by supplying arbitrary URLs in the next parameter. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-601 open redirect weakness category, which is classified as a serious security concern in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The issue is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to construct malicious links that appear to be legitimate logout redirects while actually directing users to phishing sites or other malicious destinations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the application's authentication flow where the logout endpoint accepts user-provided parameters without proper validation. When a user initiates a logout action, the system processes a "next" parameter that should ideally be restricted to URLs within the same domain or predefined safe destinations. However, Security Monkey's implementation fails to verify that the destination URL matches the application's host header or maintain a whitelist of approved redirect targets. This oversight enables attackers to craft URLs such as logout?next=http://malicious-site.com or logout?next=//malicious-site.com which would redirect users to external domains without proper authorization checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple user inconvenience to potentially serious security consequences. Attackers can leverage this weakness to create spear-phishing campaigns where users are redirected to convincing fake login pages designed to capture credentials. The vulnerability also enables more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, malware distribution, or social engineering exploits where users are unknowingly directed to malicious sites that appear to be legitimate application endpoints. This type of attack vector is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where security tools like Security Monkey are deployed to monitor and protect cloud infrastructure. The vulnerability can be exploited across multiple attack vectors defined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1566 technique for Phishing, where the open redirect serves as an initial access point for more comprehensive attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7266 should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameter sanitization within the application's authentication flow. The most effective approach involves implementing a whitelist of approved redirect destinations or ensuring that all redirect URLs are validated against the application's own domain. Security Monkey users should upgrade to version 0.8.0 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper parameter validation. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as implementing strict host header validation, using absolute URLs for redirects, and employing security headers like Content Security Policy to prevent unauthorized redirects. The fix should align with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and other industry standards for preventing open redirect vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to prevent similar issues in other application components and ensure comprehensive protection against this class of attack.