CVE-2019-10751 in HTTPie
Summary
by MITRE
All versions of the HTTPie package are vulnerable to Open Redirect that allows an attacker to write an arbitrary file with supplied filename and content to the current directory, by redirecting a request from HTTP to a crafted URL pointing to a server in his or hers control.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2023
The CVE-2019-10751 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw in the HTTPie package that has significant implications for secure network communications and data integrity. This vulnerability affects all versions of the HTTPie command-line HTTP client tool, which is widely used by developers, security professionals, and system administrators for testing and interacting with web services. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of redirect URLs, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the tool's behavior through crafted redirect responses. The vulnerability specifically enables attackers to write arbitrary files with specified filenames and content to the current working directory of the HTTPie process, creating a potential vector for unauthorized file system modifications and data exfiltration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when HTTPie processes redirect responses from web servers, particularly when handling HTTP redirects from http:// to other protocols or domains. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when followed by HTTPie, cause the tool to write files to the local filesystem using the attacker-controlled filename and content parameters. This flaw exploits the trust model inherent in HTTP redirect handling, where the tool does not properly validate or sanitize the destination URLs before executing file operations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer and can be exploited through simple web requests without requiring elevated privileges or complex attack vectors. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to inject files into the local directory where HTTPie is executed, potentially leading to persistent malware deployment or data manipulation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates multiple security risks for organizations that rely on HTTPie for testing, development, or administrative tasks. The ability to write arbitrary files to the current directory means that attackers could potentially deploy malicious scripts, configuration files, or data that could compromise the security of the system or be used for further attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in automated environments where HTTPie might be used in scripts or CI/CD pipelines, as these scenarios could lead to unauthorized code execution or data corruption. The flaw also has implications for security testing practices, as legitimate security professionals using HTTPie for penetration testing could inadvertently trigger the vulnerability during routine operations. The open redirect nature means that this vulnerability could be exploited through phishing campaigns or compromised web services, making it a widespread threat across various network environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-10751 should focus on immediate remediation through package updates, as the vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent versions of HTTPie. Organizations should implement strict network monitoring to detect unusual file creation patterns in directories where HTTPie is executed, particularly when dealing with untrusted web services. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601 Open Redirect, which specifically addresses the risk of redirecting users to untrusted locations, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS to understand how attackers might leverage network protocols for exploitation. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to external services that might be used in redirect attacks, while also implementing proper input validation for all URL handling operations within applications that might use similar redirect logic. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of all systems where HTTPie is installed to identify and remove any potentially compromised files, and establish logging mechanisms to track file creation activities that could indicate exploitation attempts.