CVE-2018-1654 in Curam Social Program Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Curam Social Program Management 6.0.5, 6.1.1, 6.2.0, 7.0.1, and 7.0.3 could allow a remote attacker to conduct phishing attacks, using an open redirect attack. By persuading a victim to visit a specially-crafted Web site, a remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to spoof the URL displayed to redirect a user to a malicious Web site that would appear to be trusted. This could allow the attacker to obtain highly sensitive information or conduct further attacks against the victim. IBM X-Force ID: 144747.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2023
This vulnerability exists within IBM Curam Social Program Management versions 6.0.5, 6.1.1, 6.2.0, 7.0.1, and 7.0.3, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute open redirect attacks. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of redirect URLs within the application's web interface, allowing malicious actors to craft specially formatted web requests that manipulate the application's redirect functionality. When users navigate to a crafted URL, the application fails to properly verify the destination, enabling attackers to redirect victims to malicious sites that appear legitimate. This particular flaw aligns with CWE-601, which specifically addresses open redirect vulnerabilities where applications redirect users to unverified external URLs without proper sanitization or validation checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple phishing attempts, as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated social engineering attacks that can compromise user trust and data integrity. Attackers can exploit this weakness to create convincing fake login pages, malicious file download sites, or additional attack vectors that leverage the perceived legitimacy of the trusted IBM Curam application. The vulnerability particularly affects users who may be accessing the application through corporate networks or shared environments where such attacks could propagate more effectively. The attack requires minimal technical skill to execute, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by threat actors with varying levels of expertise. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering through phishing campaigns that exploit trust relationships with legitimate organizations.
Organizations utilizing these vulnerable versions of IBM Curam Social Program Management face significant risk of credential theft, data exfiltration, and potential system compromise through this open redirect vulnerability. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it exploits user trust in the legitimate application, making victims more likely to engage with malicious content. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access through follow-up attacks on compromised users, potentially leading to broader network infiltration. IBM has addressed this issue through security updates and patches, but organizations must ensure timely deployment of these fixes to mitigate the risk. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and URL sanitization in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive social program data that may contain personal identifying information and confidential case management details.