CVE-2023-51675 in Advanced Access Manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/29/2023
URL Redirection to Untrusted Site ('Open Redirect') vulnerability in AAM Advanced Access Manager – Restricted Content, Users & Roles, Enhanced Security and More.This issue affects Advanced Access Manager – Restricted Content, Users & Roles, Enhanced Security and More: from n/a through 6.9.18.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2024
The CVE-2023-51675 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw within the Advanced Access Manager plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions ranging from unspecified initial release through 6.9.18. This vulnerability resides in the plugin's handling of URL redirection mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit user trust and redirect visitors to untrusted external domains. The issue stems from insufficient validation of redirect URLs, allowing attackers to craft malicious links that appear legitimate while directing users to malicious websites. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-601 category of URL Redirection to Untrusted Site, which is classified as a high-severity security weakness in web applications. The vulnerability operates by accepting user-supplied input that controls redirect destinations without proper sanitization or validation, enabling attackers to manipulate the redirection flow through crafted parameters. When users click on maliciously crafted links, they are unknowingly redirected to attacker-controlled domains, potentially exposing them to phishing attacks, malware distribution, or credential theft operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection, as it can be leveraged as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the broader attack chain. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) and T1566.002 (Phishing: Spearphishing Link), as it enables attackers to create convincing phishing campaigns that exploit user trust in legitimate WordPress plugins. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also the overall security posture of WordPress installations, as compromised sites can become part of botnet operations or serve as launch points for attacks against other systems. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting URLs that appear to originate from trusted WordPress domains, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users expect security from well-known plugins. The affected plugin's role in access management and user authentication makes this vulnerability even more concerning, as it could potentially be used to redirect users away from authentication pages, compromising the integrity of the authentication flow.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-51675 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 6.9.19 or later, as this represents the most effective solution to address the root cause. Organizations should implement comprehensive URL validation mechanisms that ensure all redirect destinations are properly verified against a whitelist of trusted domains, following the principle of least privilege in redirect handling. Network administrators should deploy web application firewalls with custom rules to detect and block suspicious redirect patterns, particularly those containing unusual domain structures or protocols. Security monitoring should include detection of anomalous redirect behavior in web server logs, as attackers often leave traces of their activities that can be identified through log analysis. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying URLs before clicking on links, especially those received through email or other communication channels. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which redirects can be processed. Organizations should also consider implementing automated scanning tools that can identify and alert on open redirect vulnerabilities within their web applications, as this helps maintain ongoing security hygiene and prevents similar issues from arising in other components of the system architecture.