CVE-2017-9297 in Device Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Open Redirect vulnerability in Hitachi Device Manager before 8.5.2-01 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2020
The CVE-2017-9297 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw discovered in Hitachi Device Manager versions prior to 8.5.2-01, exposing organizations to significant security risks through malicious redirection attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects the authentication and session management components of the device manager application, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate user navigation and potentially execute social engineering campaigns. The flaw exists in how the application processes redirect parameters during authentication flows, allowing unauthorized parties to craft malicious URLs that would redirect users to attacker-controlled domains without proper validation or user consent.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the application's redirect handling mechanism. When users attempt to access protected resources or undergo authentication processes, the system accepts redirect URLs from user-supplied parameters without sufficient sanitization or domain verification. This creates a condition where attackers can manipulate the redirect parameter to point to malicious domains, exploiting the trust users place in legitimate application interfaces. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application layer and requires no privileged access or complex exploitation techniques, making it highly accessible to threat actors with basic web application knowledge.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to conduct sophisticated phishing campaigns and credential harvesting operations. When users are redirected to malicious sites through compromised authentication flows, they may unknowingly provide credentials or sensitive information to attackers who have positioned themselves as legitimate service providers. The attack vector typically involves sending crafted links through email or other communication channels that appear to originate from trusted Hitachi Device Manager interfaces. This opens the door to full system compromise when users authenticate to attacker-controlled domains, potentially leading to unauthorized access to device configurations, network monitoring capabilities, and sensitive operational data.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including patching to version 8.5.2-01 or higher, which contains the necessary code fixes to validate redirect parameters and prevent unauthorized redirection. Network-level controls such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection by monitoring and blocking suspicious redirect patterns, while security awareness training should emphasize the importance of verifying destination URLs before authentication. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601 Open Redirect weakness category and maps to attack techniques within the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1566 Phishing and T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify any other potential redirect vulnerabilities within their network infrastructure and implement proper input validation controls across all application components that handle user-supplied redirect parameters.