CVE-2017-9296 in Device Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Open Redirect vulnerability in Hitachi Device Manager before 8.5.2-01 and Hitachi Tuning Manager before 8.5.2-00 allows remote attackers to redirect authenticated users to arbitrary web sites.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2020
The CVE-2017-9296 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw affecting Hitachi Device Manager and Hitachi Tuning Manager software versions prior to specific patch releases. This vulnerability resides in the authentication and redirection mechanisms of these industrial management systems, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate user navigation flows. The flaw specifically impacts systems that handle authenticated sessions, where legitimate users are redirected through the application's authorization framework before being directed to their intended destinations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of redirect URLs, allowing malicious actors to craft specially formatted requests that bypass normal security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly sanitize and validate redirect parameters within authentication flows. When users authenticate through the affected systems, the software processes redirect URLs without adequate input validation or canonicalization checks. This allows attackers to inject malicious URLs that appear legitimate within the application's context, enabling them to redirect authenticated users to attacker-controlled domains. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through web-based interfaces that handle user authentication and session management. According to CWE classification, this corresponds to CWE-601: URL Redirection to Untrusted Site, which specifically addresses the security risk of redirecting users to potentially malicious destinations. The flaw represents a classic case of inadequate input validation and trust boundary violations that can lead to various downstream security consequences including credential theft and phishing attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-9296 extends beyond simple redirection attacks, potentially enabling sophisticated social engineering campaigns and credential harvesting operations. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to create convincing phishing pages that appear to be legitimate system interfaces, tricking authenticated users into revealing sensitive credentials or accessing malicious content. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in industrial environments where Hitachi Device Manager and Tuning Manager systems manage critical infrastructure components, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to operational technology systems. The attack surface includes any authenticated session within these applications, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations that rely on these tools for device management and system tuning operations. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566: Phishing, where attackers leverage legitimate application interfaces to conduct social engineering attacks against authenticated users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-9296 require immediate patching of affected systems to the recommended versions that contain proper input validation and URL sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of these management interfaces to untrusted networks. The implementation of proper URL validation should include strict canonicalization of redirect parameters and whitelisting of approved redirect destinations. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous redirect patterns and unauthorized URL manipulation attempts. Additionally, user education programs should be implemented to raise awareness about suspicious redirection behaviors and phishing attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection against malicious redirect attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security controls in industrial management systems and the need for comprehensive vulnerability management programs that address both known and emerging threats in operational technology environments.