CVE-2022-0560 in Microweber
Summary
by MITRE • 02/11/2022
Open Redirect in Packagist microweber/microweber prior to 1.2.11.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0560 represents an open redirect flaw discovered in the Packagist package management system within the microweber/microweber software version prior to 1.2.11. This issue manifests as a security weakness that allows malicious actors to manipulate web application redirects, potentially leading to phishing attacks or unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability specifically affects the package management functionality where user input is not properly validated before being used in redirect operations, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by attackers to direct users to malicious websites.
Open redirect vulnerabilities occur when an application accepts user-supplied input that determines the destination of a redirect operation without proper validation or sanitization. In the context of CVE-2022-0560, this flaw exists within the microweber package management system where external input is processed to determine redirect URLs. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize or verify the legitimacy of redirect destinations, allowing attackers to craft malicious URLs that appear to originate from legitimate sources while actually directing users to attacker-controlled domains.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection attacks and can enable more sophisticated attack vectors including credential harvesting, malware distribution, and social engineering campaigns. When users encounter a redirect to a malicious domain, they may unknowingly provide sensitive information or download harmful software, particularly if the redirect appears to come from a trusted source within the application ecosystem. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten 2017, specifically addressing the improper error handling and weak input validation categories that can lead to various downstream security issues.
From a threat modeling perspective, CVE-2022-0560 aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1566 - Phishing, as it provides an attack vector for creating convincing phishing campaigns through legitimate-looking redirects. The vulnerability also maps to CWE-601 - URL Redirection to Untrusted Site, which specifically addresses the security risk of redirecting users to external domains without proper validation. Security professionals should recognize this as a critical issue that requires immediate attention, particularly in environments where package management systems are exposed to untrusted users or external network traffic.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied redirect parameters, ensuring that any redirect destination is either explicitly trusted or verified against a whitelist of approved domains. Organizations should also implement strict URL validation mechanisms that reject any redirect attempts to external domains unless they meet specific security criteria. Additionally, developers should consider implementing a redirect confirmation page that alerts users when they are about to be redirected to an external site, providing transparency and reducing the risk of successful phishing attacks. The fix for CVE-2022-0560 required updating the microweber package management system to version 1.2.11 or later, which included enhanced validation mechanisms and proper sanitization of redirect parameters to prevent unauthorized redirection attempts.