CVE-2018-16191 in EC-CUBE
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in EC-CUBE (EC-CUBE 3.0.0, EC-CUBE 3.0.1, EC-CUBE 3.0.2, EC-CUBE 3.0.3, EC-CUBE 3.0.4, EC-CUBE 3.0.5, EC-CUBE 3.0.6, EC-CUBE 3.0.7, EC-CUBE 3.0.8, EC-CUBE 3.0.9, EC-CUBE 3.0.10, EC-CUBE 3.0.11, EC-CUBE 3.0.12, EC-CUBE 3.0.12-p1, EC-CUBE 3.0.13, EC-CUBE 3.0.14, EC-CUBE 3.0.15, EC-CUBE 3.0.16) allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2020
The CVE-2018-16191 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw within the EC-CUBE e-commerce platform version 3.0.0 through 3.0.16. This vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-601 Open Redirect, which occurs when an application redirects users to external websites without proper validation of the destination URL. The flaw exists in the application's handling of redirect parameters, allowing attackers to craft malicious URLs that would redirect users from the legitimate EC-CUBE site to attacker-controlled domains. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects multiple versions of the platform, indicating a persistent issue in the codebase that was not adequately addressed during the development lifecycle.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of redirect parameters within the EC-CUBE framework. When users encounter links or buttons that should trigger redirects, the application fails to properly verify whether the target URL originates from the same domain or is an acceptable external destination. Attackers can exploit this by manipulating URL parameters or form inputs that control redirect behavior, potentially constructing URLs with malicious destinations that appear legitimate to users. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple entry points within the application could be exploited, including login redirects, checkout processes, and various user interaction components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for both end users and the organizations running EC-CUBE installations. Users may be unknowingly redirected to phishing sites that mimic legitimate banking or e-commerce interfaces, leading to credential theft, financial fraud, and data compromise. The vulnerability enables sophisticated social engineering attacks where attackers can create convincing fake login pages or payment processing interfaces that appear to be part of the legitimate EC-CUBE platform. Organizations face potential reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and regulatory compliance issues if user data is compromised through these redirects. The widespread nature of the affected versions means that numerous EC-CUBE deployments were potentially exposed to this risk.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-16191 should prioritize immediate patching of all affected EC-CUBE versions to the latest stable releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement strict input validation and URL sanitization mechanisms to ensure that all redirect parameters are validated against a whitelist of approved domains. Network-level controls such as web application firewalls and URL filtering systems can provide additional protection by monitoring and blocking suspicious redirect patterns. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all redirect functionality within the application to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 Phishing, specifically targeting the initial access phase where attackers use deceptive redirects to compromise user systems. Organizations should also implement user education programs to raise awareness about suspicious redirects and encourage verification of destination URLs before proceeding with sensitive transactions.