CVE-2018-1704 in Platform Symphony
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Platform Symphony 7.1 Fix Pack 1 and 7.1.1 and IBM Spectrum Symphony 7.1.2 and 7.2.0.2 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: 146339.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2023
This vulnerability exists in IBM Platform Symphony and IBM Spectrum Symphony versions 7.1.1 through 7.2.0.2 where improper input validation allows attackers to manipulate redirect parameters in web applications. The flaw stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input that controls URL redirection behavior, creating an open redirect vulnerability that can be exploited to deceive users into visiting malicious sites. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability, which represents a significant security weakness in web application design where applications fail to validate or sanitize redirect URLs. The attack vector requires a remote attacker to craft a malicious URL that appears legitimate to users, exploiting the trust relationship between the victim's browser and the legitimate web application. When users click on the crafted link, they are redirected to an attacker-controlled site that mimics the trusted domain, enabling phishing attacks and credential theft.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple phishing attempts as it provides attackers with a mechanism to establish trust relationships with victims and conduct more sophisticated social engineering campaigns. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to redirect users to malicious sites that host malware, steal session cookies, or capture sensitive information through credential harvesting forms. The vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where users trust IBM Symphony applications for legitimate business operations, making successful exploitation more likely to result in significant data breaches or unauthorized access to corporate resources. Security researchers have identified this as a critical risk in web application security frameworks, as it bypasses traditional security controls and relies on user trust in the application's interface. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 Phishing, where attackers use deceptive web pages to gain access to user credentials or systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all redirect parameters, implementing a whitelist approach for redirect URLs, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious redirect attempts. The recommended solution involves configuring applications to only allow redirection to pre-approved domains or implementing strict URL validation that prevents redirection to external domains. Additionally, organizations should educate users about the risks of clicking suspicious links and implement security awareness training to recognize potential phishing attempts. IBM has released patches and fix packs for affected versions that address the input validation issues, and organizations should immediately apply these updates to prevent exploitation. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual redirect patterns and potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper security testing and input validation in web applications, particularly those handling user authentication and session management functions. Organizations should also review their overall web application security posture and ensure that all redirect mechanisms are properly validated to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in other applications.