CVE-2022-31040 in Open Forms
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2022
Open Forms is an application for creating and publishing smart forms. Prior to versions 1.0.9 and 1.1.1, the cookie consent page in Open Forms contains an open redirect by injecting a `referer` querystring parameter and failing to validate the value. A malicious actor is able to redirect users to a website under their control, opening them up for phishing attacks. The redirect is initiated by the open forms backend which is a legimate page, making it less obvious to end users they are being redirected to a malicious website. Versions 1.0.9 and 1.1.1 contain patches for this issue. There are no known workarounds avaialble.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-31040 affects Open Forms, a smart form creation and publishing application that has gained traction in digital government and enterprise environments. This security flaw resides within the cookie consent page implementation, representing a critical weakness in the application's web security architecture. The vulnerability specifically manifests in versions prior to 1.0.9 and 1.1.1, indicating that the developers were aware of the issue and implemented remediation measures in subsequent releases. The affected application serves organizations requiring robust digital form solutions, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for entities handling sensitive data and user privacy information.
The technical flaw constitutes an open redirect vulnerability that operates through the manipulation of the referer querystring parameter within the cookie consent page. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-601, which defines open redirect vulnerabilities as those where an application redirects users to external websites without proper validation of the target URL. The flaw occurs because the application fails to validate the referer parameter value before using it in the redirect process, allowing attackers to inject malicious URLs that will be executed as legitimate redirects. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through simple URL parameter manipulation, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may not be security-aware.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple phishing attacks, creating a sophisticated attack vector that can be leveraged for credential theft, malware distribution, and social engineering campaigns. The malicious redirection is initiated by the Open Forms backend, which presents a legitimate page to users, making the attack less detectable through standard browser warnings or security alerts. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers spearphishing through social engineering, as the legitimate-looking redirect makes users more susceptible to falling for phishing attempts. The vulnerability effectively undermines user trust in the application and potentially exposes users to various forms of cyberattacks, particularly in environments where users may be accessing the application from shared or public computing devices.
Organizations utilizing Open Forms in environments where user privacy and data protection are paramount must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability. The attack vector represents a significant risk to user security, as users may unknowingly navigate to malicious sites while interacting with what appears to be a legitimate application page. Security professionals should evaluate their existing monitoring capabilities to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all instances of Open Forms are updated to versions 1.0.9 or 1.1.1. The lack of known workarounds for this vulnerability emphasizes the importance of immediate patch deployment, as no temporary mitigation strategies exist to prevent exploitation. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of input validation in web applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor security oversights can create significant attack surfaces that compromise user safety and organizational security posture.