CVE-2020-11664 in API Developer Portal
Summary
by MITRE
CA API Developer Portal 4.3.1 and earlier handles homeRedirect page redirects in an insecure manner, which allows attackers to perform open redirect attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-11664 affects CA API Developer Portal versions 4.3.1 and earlier, specifically concerning the handling of homeRedirect page redirects. This issue represents a critical security flaw that enables malicious actors to manipulate redirect functionality for unauthorized purposes. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of redirect URLs within the application's authentication and navigation mechanisms, creating an attack surface that can be exploited to deceive users and potentially execute malicious activities.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the application's insecure redirect handling logic where the homeRedirect parameter does not properly validate or sanitize input before processing redirects. This allows attackers to craft malicious URLs containing crafted redirect targets that can lead users to phishing sites, malicious domains, or other harmful destinations. The vulnerability operates by accepting user-supplied input directly in redirect parameters without proper sanitization or domain validation, making it susceptible to open redirect attacks where the application acts as an intermediary for malicious redirection.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to both the organization and end users of the API Developer Portal. Attackers can leverage this flaw to create convincing phishing attacks that appear legitimate since they originate from the trusted portal domain. Users who click on malicious links may unknowingly navigate to attacker-controlled sites where credentials, personal information, or API keys could be harvested. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft as this vulnerability can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and further lateral movement within the organization's network infrastructure.
The security implications of CVE-2020-11664 align with CWE-601 open redirect vulnerabilities and can be categorized under the MITRE ATT&CK framework's T1566.001 technique for phishing attacks. Organizations using affected versions of CA API Developer Portal face increased risk of successful social engineering campaigns that exploit the trust users place in the legitimate portal interface. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by threat actors with varying levels of expertise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the CA API Developer Portal to version 4.3.2 or later where the redirect handling has been properly secured. Organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization for all redirect parameters, ensuring that only known good domains are permitted for redirection. Additionally, implementing a whitelist approach for redirect destinations and employing proper URL validation techniques can prevent attackers from injecting malicious redirect targets. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious redirect patterns, and user education programs should be implemented to raise awareness about potential phishing attempts that may exploit this vulnerability. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls with rules specifically designed to detect and block open redirect attempts, creating multiple layers of defense against this class of attack.