CVE-2020-36627 in i18n
Summary
by MITRE • 12/25/2022
A vulnerability was found in Macaron i18n. It has been declared as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file i18n.go. The manipulation leads to open redirect. The attack can be launched remotely. Upgrading to version 0.5.0 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is 329b0c4844cc16a5a253c011b55180598e707735. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The identifier VDB-216745 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-36627 resides within the Macaron web framework's internationalization component, specifically in the i18n.go file where an open redirect flaw has been discovered. This issue represents a critical security weakness that allows attackers to manipulate application behavior through crafted input parameters, potentially leading to unauthorized redirections that could compromise user sessions or facilitate phishing attacks. The vulnerability's classification as an open redirect flaw aligns with CWE-601, which specifically addresses URL redirection vulnerabilities where applications redirect users to untrusted domains without proper validation. The attack vector is remote, meaning malicious actors can exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in web applications where user interaction is common.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the internationalization framework's redirect handling mechanism. When the application processes user-supplied parameters for language localization, it fails to properly sanitize or validate redirect URLs, allowing attackers to inject malicious URLs that will be executed as legitimate redirects. This flaw operates at the application logic level rather than at the network protocol level, making it more subtle and potentially harder to detect through standard network monitoring. The vulnerability's exploitation requires the attacker to craft a request that includes a malicious redirect parameter, which when processed by the vulnerable i18n.go file, causes the application to redirect users to attacker-controlled domains. The specific commit hash 329b0c4844cc16a5a253c011b55180598e707735 represents the patch that addresses this issue by implementing proper URL validation and sanitization mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection attacks, as it can enable more sophisticated attack patterns such as credential harvesting, session hijacking, or social engineering campaigns. When users are redirected to malicious domains through this vulnerability, they may unknowingly provide sensitive information or grant access to attacker-controlled systems. The vulnerability's presence in a core framework component like Macaron's i18n functionality means that applications using this framework are at risk, particularly those that implement multilingual support and user session management. The attack can be launched through various means including web browser interactions, email links, or even API calls that process user input, making the attack surface quite broad. Organizations running affected applications should consider this vulnerability as a potential entry point for more comprehensive attacks targeting user credentials, personal information, or system integrity.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigation strategies while planning for the recommended upgrade to version 0.5.0 of the Macaron framework. The patch addresses the vulnerability by introducing proper input validation mechanisms that ensure redirect URLs are either validated against a known safe list or properly sanitized before being processed. Organizations should also consider implementing additional network-level protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious redirect patterns, though these should be viewed as supplementary controls rather than primary defenses. The vulnerability's identification through VDB-216745 indicates that it has been catalogued in security databases, making it visible to threat intelligence systems and security researchers. This particular vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to initial access through web application vulnerabilities, specifically targeting the T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application technique. Regular security assessments should include checks for similar vulnerabilities in other framework components and third-party libraries to prevent cascading security issues that could compromise entire application ecosystems.