CVE-2022-4589 in Terms and Conditions Module
Summary
by MITRE • 12/17/2022
A vulnerability has been found in cyface Terms and Conditions Module up to 2.0.9 and classified as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is the function returnTo of the file termsandconditions/views.py. The manipulation leads to open redirect. The attack can be launched remotely. Upgrading to version 2.0.10 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is 03396a1c2e0af95e12a45c5faef7e47a4b513e1a. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-216175.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4589 affects the cyface Terms and Conditions Module, specifically targeting versions up to 2.0.9. This security flaw resides within the returnTo function located in the termsandconditions/views.py file, representing a critical open redirect vulnerability that enables attackers to manipulate user navigation to malicious destinations. The vulnerability's classification as problematic underscores its potential to facilitate phishing attacks, credential theft, and other malicious activities by redirecting users to attacker-controlled websites without their knowledge or consent.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the returnTo function, which fails to properly validate or sanitize redirect URLs before processing user requests. When users are redirected through this function, the application accepts any URL provided in the redirect parameter without verifying its legitimacy or ensuring it belongs to the trusted domain. This allows an attacker to craft malicious URLs that redirect users to phishing sites or malicious domains, effectively bypassing the application's intended security controls. The vulnerability operates through the standard HTTP redirect mechanism, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited via web browsers without requiring any specialized tools or techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, as it enables remote exploitation without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious link. Attackers can leverage this open redirect to perform phishing campaigns, steal user credentials through credential harvesting pages, or deliver malware by redirecting users to compromised websites. The vulnerability affects the module's security posture by creating an entry point for malicious actors to manipulate user sessions and potentially escalate privileges. Given that the attack can be launched remotely, the threat surface is extensive and can be exploited from any location with internet access, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations relying on the affected module.
Security professionals should note this vulnerability aligns with CWE-601 open redirect weakness and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential harvesting through phishing. The recommended mitigation involves upgrading to version 2.0.10, which includes the patch identified by commit hash 03396a1c2e0af95e12a45c5faef7e47a4b513e1a. This upgrade addresses the root cause by implementing proper URL validation and sanitization within the returnTo function. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as URL whitelist validation, monitoring for suspicious redirect patterns, and regular security assessments of third-party modules to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into their applications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of validating all user inputs and ensuring that redirect mechanisms are properly secured to prevent unauthorized redirection of user sessions.