CVE-2018-15913 in Manager
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Cloudera Manager 5.x through 5.15.0. One type of page in Cloudera Manager uses a 'returnUrl' parameter to redirect the user to another page in Cloudera Manager once a wizard is completed. The validity of this parameter was not checked. As a result, the user could be automatically redirected to an attacker's external site or perform a malicious JavaScript function that results in cross-site scripting (XSS). This was fixed by not allowing any value in the returnUrl parameter with patterns such as http://, https://, //, or javascript. The only exceptions to this rule are the SAML Login/Logout URLs, which remain supported since they are explicitly configured and they are not passed via the returnUrl parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2020
This vulnerability in Cloudera Manager 5.x through 5.15.0 represents a critical security flaw that enables unauthorized redirection and cross-site scripting attacks through improper validation of the returnUrl parameter. The issue stems from a lack of input sanitization and validation mechanisms that should have been implemented to prevent malicious actors from manipulating the redirect functionality. The vulnerability specifically affects the wizard completion pages where the returnUrl parameter is used to determine the destination after a user completes a multi-step process, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit the system's redirect mechanism.
The technical implementation flaw involves the absence of proper parameter validation for the returnUrl field, which allows arbitrary URLs to be passed without sanitization or verification. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-601, which describes URL redirect vulnerabilities where applications redirect users to untrusted domains without proper validation. The lack of input filtering creates an environment where attackers can craft malicious URLs that include protocols such as http://, https://, //, or javascript: schemes that can lead to phishing attacks or execute malicious JavaScript code in the victim's browser context. This particular implementation allows for both open redirect scenarios and cross-site scripting opportunities, amplifying the potential impact of the vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection attacks to encompass serious security implications for Cloudera Manager users and organizations. Attackers could redirect authenticated users to malicious domains, potentially harvesting credentials or sensitive information through phishing campaigns, or execute malicious JavaScript code that could compromise user sessions and access credentials. The vulnerability affects the entire Cloudera Manager ecosystem where users might be tricked into visiting malicious sites through legitimate-looking wizard completion pages, undermining the trust model of the application and potentially providing attackers with access to sensitive configuration data and system management interfaces. This risk is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Cloudera Manager serves as a central management interface for critical data infrastructure.
The mitigation strategy implemented by Cloudera addressed the core issue by establishing strict validation rules for the returnUrl parameter that block all URLs containing the specified patterns including http://, https://, //, and javascript:. This approach follows the principle of least privilege by restricting the parameter to only allow specific, pre-approved destinations. The solution maintains support for SAML Login/Logout URLs as exceptions since these are explicitly configured by administrators and are not passed through the returnUrl parameter, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 which focuses on social engineering through phishing and malicious redirects. The fix demonstrates proper input validation and sanitization practices that prevent the exploitation of parameter manipulation vulnerabilities while preserving legitimate functionality for authorized use cases. Organizations should ensure that all web applications implement similar validation mechanisms for redirect parameters to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in their own systems.