CVE-2022-3145 in oidc-middlewareOpen
Summary
by MITRE • 01/12/2023
An open redirect vulnerability exists in Okta OIDC Middleware prior to version 5.0.0 allowing an attacker to redirect a user to an arbitrary URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2025
The open redirect vulnerability identified in CVE-2022-3145 affects Okta OIDC Middleware versions prior to 5.0.0, representing a critical security flaw that enables attackers to manipulate user redirection flows within authentication systems. This vulnerability resides in the middleware's handling of redirect URLs during OpenID Connect authentication processes, where proper validation and sanitization of redirect parameters are insufficiently implemented. The flaw allows malicious actors to craft specially formatted requests that can redirect users from legitimate authentication endpoints to attacker-controlled domains, potentially facilitating phishing attacks or credential theft operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the redirect URL processing logic. When Okta OIDC Middleware receives authentication requests containing redirect parameters, it fails to properly verify that the target URL belongs to the authorized domain or that it adheres to strict validation rules. This weakness creates an environment where attackers can insert malicious URLs that appear legitimate to users but actually direct them to fraudulent sites designed to capture authentication credentials or personal information. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically impacts the middleware's authentication flow handling mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection attacks, as it can be leveraged within broader attack frameworks to compromise user accounts and sensitive authentication data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious links that appear to originate from trusted Okta domains, tricking users into clicking through to attacker-controlled sites. This opens the door to credential harvesting, session hijacking, and other malicious activities that can severely compromise the security posture of organizations relying on Okta authentication services. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the authentication process and can undermine trust in the entire authentication ecosystem.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Okta OIDC Middleware version 5.0.0 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as this release includes proper URL validation mechanisms and enhanced input sanitization. Additional mitigations include implementing strict redirect URL policies that only permit redirection to pre-approved domains, deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious redirect requests, and conducting regular security assessments of authentication flows. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601 Open Redirect and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1566.001 Phishing, as it enables attackers to create convincing phishing scenarios that bypass traditional security controls. Security teams should also implement monitoring for unusual redirect patterns and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing authentication redirection attacks to minimize potential damage from exploitation attempts.