CVE-2025-7777 in mirror-registry
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2025
The mirror-registry doesn't properly sanitize the host header HTTP header in HTTP request received, allowing an attacker to perform malicious redirects to attacker-controlled domains or phishing campaigns.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in HTTP request processing where the mirror registry fails to properly sanitize the host header field, creating an avenue for malicious redirection attacks. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the registry's HTTP handling logic, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary host values that can be exploited for various nefarious purposes. The host header is a critical component in HTTP communication that specifies the domain name and port number of the server being requested, and when improperly handled, it can be manipulated to redirect traffic or impersonate legitimate services. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation as defined by CWE-20, which specifically addresses the failure to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection attacks, as it enables sophisticated phishing campaigns where attackers can craft malicious URLs that appear legitimate to unsuspecting users. When an attacker controls the host header value, they can redirect requests to malicious domains that mimic trusted services, potentially leading to credential theft, malware distribution, or data exfiltration. The attack surface is particularly concerning in registry environments where authentication and authorization mechanisms may be bypassed through these redirects, especially when users are directed to attacker-controlled domains that can capture sensitive information. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which focuses on phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks that leverage manipulated HTTP headers to deceive users into visiting malicious sites.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites, as attackers only need to send HTTP requests with manipulated host headers to the vulnerable mirror registry. The registry's failure to sanitize this header field means that any value provided by the client can be directly processed and potentially used in subsequent redirect operations or logging activities. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple sessions and user interactions, particularly in environments where the registry serves as a central point for package distribution or container image retrieval. Organizations implementing such registries must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability, as it can compromise not only the integrity of the registry service itself but also the security of downstream systems that rely on the registry for software delivery. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in enterprise environments where registry services are often used to distribute critical software components, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise software supply chains.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and sanitization for all HTTP headers, particularly the host header field. Organizations should deploy proper header validation mechanisms that either reject or normalize suspicious host values, ensuring that only legitimate domain names are accepted. The registry service should be configured to validate host headers against a predefined whitelist of allowed domains or implement strict parsing rules that prevent the inclusion of malicious redirection targets. Additionally, network-level protections such as firewalls and web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and filter suspicious HTTP header values. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the software supply chain, as this type of input sanitization issue is prevalent across many web applications and services. The implementation of proper logging and monitoring mechanisms is essential to detect potential exploitation attempts and track any malicious activity related to host header manipulation.