CVE-2023-20884 in Workspace ONE Access
Summary
by MITRE • 05/30/2023
VMware Workspace ONE Access and VMware Identity Manager contain an insecure redirect vulnerability. An unauthenticated malicious actor may be able to redirect a victim to an attacker controlled domain due to improper path handling leading to sensitive information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-20884 affects VMware Workspace ONE Access and VMware Identity Manager platforms, representing a critical insecure redirect flaw that undermines the security posture of these identity management solutions. This vulnerability stems from improper path handling within the authentication and authorization workflows, creating an exploitable condition that allows unauthorized actors to manipulate redirect parameters. The flaw exists in the way these systems process URL redirection mechanisms, specifically when handling user authentication flows and post-authentication redirects to external domains or internal resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the insufficient validation and sanitization of redirect URLs within the authentication modules of these VMware products. When users attempt to access protected resources or navigate through authentication flows, the systems accept and process redirect parameters without adequate verification of their destination paths. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by authenticated or unauthenticated users, redirect them to attacker-controlled domains. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates without requiring authentication credentials, making it accessible to any actor who can craft and deliver malicious links to targets.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates multiple attack vectors that can lead to significant security breaches and data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this flaw to conduct phishing campaigns by redirecting victims to malicious domains that appear legitimate, potentially harvesting credentials or sensitive information. The vulnerability also enables man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can intercept user sessions or redirect users to compromised resources that appear to be part of the legitimate organization. Additionally, the flaw can facilitate credential stuffing attacks, where attackers redirect users to their own domains to capture login credentials. The insecure redirect mechanism essentially creates a trust boundary violation, allowing attackers to bypass the normal security controls that should protect user sessions and sensitive information.
Organizations utilizing VMware Workspace ONE Access and Identity Manager systems face heightened risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where these platforms serve as primary authentication gateways for enterprise applications and services. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, potentially enabling full session hijacking, privilege escalation, and lateral movement within network environments. Security teams must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their overall security architecture, as it can undermine the effectiveness of multi-factor authentication and other security controls that depend on proper authentication flow management.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601, which specifically addresses insecure redirects and forwards, and corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1566 for Phishing and T1078 for Valid Accounts. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling or restricting redirect functionality where possible, implementing strict URL validation mechanisms, and deploying network-level controls to monitor and block suspicious redirect patterns. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected software and ensure timely patch deployment. The remediation strategy should include network segmentation, enhanced monitoring of authentication flows, and user education regarding the risks of clicking suspicious links, particularly in environments where these systems serve as central authentication points for enterprise resources.