CVE-2018-8937 in Open-AudIT Professional
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Open-AudIT Professional 2.1. It is possible to inject a malicious payload in the redirect_url parameter to the /login URI to trigger an open redirect. A "data:text/html;base64," payload can be used with JavaScript code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-8937 resides within Open-AudIT Professional version 2.1, representing a critical security flaw that enables unauthorized redirection through improper input validation. This issue manifests specifically within the authentication mechanism of the application, where the redirect_url parameter in the /login URI fails to adequately sanitize user-provided input. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the redirection behavior during the login process, potentially leading to malicious website redirections that could deceive users into visiting harmful sites.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the absence of proper validation for the redirect_url parameter, which permits the inclusion of arbitrary URLs without sufficient sanitization. Attackers can craft malicious payloads using the "data:text/html;base64," scheme to embed JavaScript code directly within the URL parameter. This technique allows for the execution of arbitrary code in the context of the victim's browser session, effectively bypassing normal security boundaries. The vulnerability falls under the category of open redirect vulnerabilities, which are classified as CWE-601 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, specifically addressing the issue of URL redirection to untrusted domains.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection attacks, as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated social engineering campaigns. When users attempt to log in to the Open-AudIT Professional application, they may be unknowingly redirected to malicious websites that appear legitimate. This opens opportunities for credential theft, malware distribution, and other malicious activities that exploit user trust in the authenticating application. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on Open-AudIT for network auditing and asset management, as compromised authentication flows could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive network information and systems.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1566 technique for Phishing and T1071.601 for Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as the open redirect can be weaponized to deliver malicious payloads through web-based attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation for all redirect parameters, strict URL validation using allowlists of approved domains, and comprehensive security testing of authentication flows. The remediation process should involve updating to the latest version of Open-AudIT Professional, implementing proper parameter sanitization, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the system.