CVE-2024-46326 in pkp-lib
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2024
Public Knowledge Project pkp-lib 3.4.0-7 and earlier is vulnerable to Open redirect due to a lack of input sanitization in the logout function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-46326 affects the Public Knowledge Project pkp-lib library version 3.4.0-7 and earlier, presenting a critical open redirect flaw that stems from inadequate input sanitization within the logout function. This issue creates a significant security risk for systems utilizing this library, particularly those implementing web-based authentication and session management mechanisms. The vulnerability resides in the improper handling of redirect parameters during user logout processes, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the redirection flow.
The technical flaw manifests when the logout function processes redirect URLs without adequate validation or sanitization of user-supplied input. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious URLs that redirect users to arbitrary external domains upon logout, potentially facilitating phishing attacks or credential theft. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-601, which categorizes open redirect vulnerabilities as weaknesses where web applications redirect users to untrusted domains without proper validation. The implementation flaw occurs at the application level where input validation mechanisms fail to properly sanitize redirect parameters, allowing malicious input to bypass security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection attacks, potentially enabling sophisticated social engineering campaigns where users are tricked into visiting malicious sites while believing they are logging out of legitimate services. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting URLs that appear legitimate but redirect to phishing pages designed to capture user credentials or other sensitive information. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications built on the pkp-lib framework, which is commonly used in academic publishing platforms, digital libraries, and scholarly communication systems. The attack surface includes any system where users might be redirected after logout operations, making it a widespread concern for organizations utilizing this library.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all redirect parameters, implementing strict whitelisting of allowed redirect domains, and ensuring proper URL validation before any redirection occurs. The recommended approach involves configuring the application to only permit redirects to trusted internal domains or explicitly defined safe destinations. Security measures should include implementing the principle of least privilege for redirect functionality, using absolute URLs instead of relative paths, and employing proper encoding techniques to prevent malicious input from being interpreted as valid redirect targets. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious redirect attempts, while also monitoring for unusual logout behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The mitigation strategy should align with established security frameworks and best practices for preventing open redirect vulnerabilities, including adherence to secure coding guidelines and regular security testing of application components.