CVE-2018-7473 in SO WIFI Hotspot Web Interface
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in the SO Connect SO WIFI hotspot web interface, prior to version 140, allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2020
The CVE-2018-7473 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw discovered in the SO Connect SO WIFI hotspot web interface affecting versions prior to 140. This vulnerability resides within the authentication and redirection mechanisms of the hotspot interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate user navigation flows. The flaw specifically manifests when the system processes user redirection requests without proper validation of destination URLs, allowing attackers to craft malicious links that appear legitimate but direct users to attacker-controlled domains.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization within the web application's redirect functionality. When users attempt to access the hotspot interface, the system accepts redirect parameters that are not properly validated against a whitelist of approved domains. This weakness enables attackers to inject arbitrary URLs into the redirect parameter, effectively bypassing the intended security controls. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through simple HTTP requests containing malicious redirect parameters, making it particularly dangerous due to its ease of exploitation and the broad attack surface it creates.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection, creating significant security risks for organizations deploying SO Connect SO WIFI hotspots. Attackers can leverage this flaw to conduct sophisticated phishing campaigns by redirecting users to malicious domains that mimic legitimate service interfaces, potentially capturing sensitive credentials and personal information. The vulnerability enables man-in-the-middle attacks where users are unknowingly directed to attacker-controlled sites, creating trust relationships that can be exploited for data exfiltration, credential theft, or further network infiltration. Organizations using affected versions face potential reputational damage, regulatory compliance issues, and increased risk of downstream security incidents.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7473 should focus on implementing strict input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's redirect functionality. Organizations must establish comprehensive URL validation that only permits redirection to pre-approved domains, implementing a whitelist approach rather than relying on blacklisting methods. The solution should incorporate proper URL parsing and validation routines that ensure redirect destinations are authenticated and authorized before processing. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-601, which specifically addresses open redirect vulnerabilities, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 related to spearphishing via email. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching to version 140 or higher, while also implementing network-level controls such as web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and block suspicious redirect attempts. Additional defensive measures include user education programs to recognize phishing attempts and implementing security awareness training to reduce the likelihood of successful social engineering attacks exploiting this vulnerability.