CVE-2024-25566 in PingAM
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2024
An Open-Redirect vulnerability exists in PingAM where well-crafted requests may cause improper validation of redirect URLs. This could allow an attacker to redirect end-users to malicious sites under their control, simplifying phishing attacks
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2024-25566 represents a critical open-redirect flaw in the PingAM application that fundamentally compromises user security through improper input validation. This issue resides in the application's redirect mechanism where user-supplied URLs are not adequately sanitized or validated before being processed for redirection. The flaw allows attackers to craft malicious requests that bypass normal security checks, enabling them to redirect unsuspecting users to attacker-controlled domains. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they exploit the trust users place in legitimate applications, making them ideal for executing sophisticated phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability category which is classified as a high-severity issue in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when PingAM processes redirect parameters without proper validation of the target URL scheme or domain. Attackers can manipulate the redirect functionality by injecting malicious URLs that appear to originate from the legitimate PingAM domain, thereby deceiving users into believing they are navigating within a trusted environment. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various vectors including crafted HTTP requests, web form submissions, or API calls that accept redirect parameters. The lack of proper URL validation allows attackers to specify any domain or protocol in the redirect target, potentially leading to full compromise of user sessions or credential theft. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates an attack surface that can be leveraged for credential harvesting, malware distribution, and data exfiltration.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-25566 extends beyond simple phishing attacks, as it provides attackers with a powerful vector for more sophisticated social engineering campaigns. When users are redirected to malicious sites through what appears to be legitimate application behavior, they are significantly more likely to trust the subsequent content and potentially enter sensitive information. This vulnerability can be exploited in conjunction with other attack techniques, such as credential stuffing or malware delivery, creating multi-stage attack scenarios that are difficult to detect and mitigate. The vulnerability also impacts the application's security posture by undermining user trust and potentially exposing sensitive data that users believe they are transmitting to legitimate systems. Organizations utilizing PingAM must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their overall security architecture, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's ability to validate user inputs and maintain security boundaries.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures. Organizations should immediately implement strict URL validation that only allows redirection to known, trusted domains or uses absolute URLs with proper scheme validation. The solution should include implementing a whitelist approach for redirect destinations, ensuring that all redirect parameters are validated against a predefined list of acceptable domains. Additionally, security headers such as Content Security Policy should be implemented to prevent unauthorized redirection. Organizations should also consider implementing logging and monitoring for redirect operations to detect potential abuse. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 Phishing which emphasizes the use of deceptive redirects to compromise user security. The remediation approach should follow security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, particularly focusing on input validation and secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future development cycles.