CVE-2019-3477 in Solution Business Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Micro Focus Solution Business Manager versions prior to 11.4.2 is susceptible to open redirect.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3477 affects Micro Focus Solution Business Manager versions before 11.4.2 and represents a critical open redirect flaw that can be exploited by attackers to manipulate user navigation and potentially facilitate phishing attacks. This vulnerability resides within the application's handling of redirect parameters, where insufficient validation allows malicious actors to craft URLs that redirect users to arbitrary external domains. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes redirect URLs without proper sanitization or domain validation, creating an avenue for attackers to exploit user trust and redirect them to malicious sites.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the redirect functionality of the Solution Business Manager application. When users encounter links or forms that trigger redirects, the system fails to verify that the target URL belongs to an approved domain or that it follows secure redirect protocols. This weakness can be leveraged through crafted URLs containing malicious redirect parameters that bypass normal security checks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601 open redirect vulnerability classification, which specifically addresses situations where web applications redirect users to external sites without proper validation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for the initial access phase through spearphishing attachments or links.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection, as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attacks including credential theft, malware distribution, and social engineering campaigns. Attackers can craft deceptive links that appear to originate from trusted internal domains, making it difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate and malicious redirects. This capability significantly undermines user trust and can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive business information or compromise of user credentials. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may not be trained to identify suspicious redirects, making the attack surface larger and more impactful.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-3477 should focus on implementing strict domain validation for all redirect parameters and ensuring that the application only permits redirection to pre-approved domains. Organizations should deploy input sanitization measures that filter and validate all redirect URLs before processing them, utilizing allowlists of trusted domains rather than denylists. The solution involves updating to Micro Focus Solution Business Manager version 11.4.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the open redirect vulnerability. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls with redirect validation capabilities, monitoring for suspicious redirect patterns in application logs, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Security teams should also consider implementing user education programs to help employees recognize potentially malicious redirects and report suspicious activity.