CVE-2024-53995 in sickchill
Summary
by MITRE • 01/08/2025
SickChill is an automatic video library manager for TV shows. A user-controlled `login` endpoint's `next_` parameter takes arbitrary content. Prior to commit c7128a8946c3701df95c285810eb75b2de18bf82, an authenticated attacker may use this to redirect the user to arbitrary destinations, leading to open redirect. Commit c7128a8946c3701df95c285810eb75b2de18bf82 changes the login page to redirect to `settings.DEFAULT_PAGE` instead of to the `next` parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-53995 affects SickChill, an automated video library management system designed for television shows. This application serves as a centralized platform for organizing and managing television content, making it a potentially attractive target for attackers seeking to exploit authentication flows. The vulnerability resides within the login endpoint's handling of the `next_` parameter, which represents a common pattern in web applications for directing users to their intended destination after successful authentication. The flaw enables unauthorized redirection that could be leveraged for malicious purposes, particularly in phishing or social engineering attacks where users might be unknowingly directed to fraudulent websites.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the authentication flow. When a user attempts to log in, the application accepts a `next_` parameter that specifies where the user should be redirected upon successful authentication. Prior to the mitigating commit c7128a8946c3701df95c285810eb75b2de18bf82, this parameter was processed without adequate restrictions, allowing attackers to supply arbitrary URLs. This represents a classic open redirect vulnerability where the application fails to validate that the redirect destination is within the trusted domain or otherwise appropriate for the application context. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601, which specifically addresses open redirect vulnerabilities, and demonstrates how improper validation of user-supplied input can lead to security issues that compromise user safety and application integrity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection, as it creates opportunities for attackers to conduct phishing attacks or deliver malware through seemingly legitimate application flows. An authenticated attacker with knowledge of the vulnerability could craft malicious links that direct users to fraudulent login pages or sites hosting malicious content. This type of attack could be particularly effective in environments where users trust the SickChill application and its authentication flows. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers phishing attacks, and could be leveraged as part of broader attack chains targeting user credentials or system access. The risk is elevated because the vulnerability affects the authentication process itself, potentially compromising user sessions and access to the video library management system.
The mitigation implemented in commit c7128a8946c3701df95c285810eb75b2de18bf82 addresses the core issue by changing the login page behavior to redirect users to `settings.DEFAULT_PAGE` rather than honoring the potentially malicious `next` parameter. This approach follows the principle of least privilege and defense in depth by removing the user-controllable redirect functionality from the authentication flow. The solution effectively prevents attackers from manipulating the redirect destination while maintaining the application's core functionality. However, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of validating all user inputs in authentication flows and the need for security-conscious development practices that consider the full attack surface of web applications. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as domain whitelisting for redirects, proper logging of redirect attempts, and user awareness training to further reduce the risk of exploitation. The fix represents a sound approach to addressing open redirect vulnerabilities by eliminating the dangerous parameter rather than attempting to validate or sanitize it, which is often error-prone in complex web applications.