Open Redirect Vulnerability Assessment Report
An Open Redirect vulnerability was identified that allows users to be redirected to external websites through unvalidated redirect parameters, potentially enabling phishing and abuse of the trusted domain.
Introduction
The assessment identified an Open Redirect vulnerability on target.robert-quintero.com. This vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate redirect parameters and redirect users to attacker-controlled websites.
The issue can be abused to create convincing phishing links using a trusted domain, potentially leading users to malicious websites and increasing the success rate of social engineering attacks.
Assessment Date: November 25, 2024
Target: https://target.robertquintero.me/
Objective
The goal of this security assessment was to identify and evaluate Open Redirect vulnerabilities within the target web application.
The assessment focused on:
- Identifying unsafe redirect functionality.
- Testing whether user-controlled URL parameters are properly validated.
- Evaluating the potential security impact.
- Providing remediation recommendations.
Findings Overview
The target application is vulnerable to Open Redirect, where user-controlled redirect parameters are accepted without proper validation.
An attacker could abuse this weakness by creating a malicious URL that appears to originate from the trusted domain but redirects victims to an external malicious website.
Open Redirect Exploitation
Vulnerability
Vulnerability Type: Open Redirect
An Open Redirect occurs when an application redirects users to a destination specified by user input without verifying whether the destination is trusted.
Affected URL
https://target.robert-quintero.com/Steps to Reproduce
- Navigate to the affected page.
- Modify the redirect parameter:
https://target.robert-quintero.com/redirect?url=https://attacker.robert-quintero.com- Submit the request.
- Observe that the application redirects the user to the external attacker-controlled website.
Impact
This vulnerability may allow attackers to:
- Create trusted-looking phishing URLs.
- Redirect users to malicious websites.
- Perform credential harvesting attacks.
- Abuse the reputation of the affected domain.
Business Impact
Possible consequences include:
- Increased phishing success rate.
- Loss of user trust.
- Potential exposure of user credentials through malicious websites.
Recommendations & Mitigation
Implement URL Validation
Only allow redirects to approved internal destinations.
Example:
Allowed:
/dashboard
/profile
/settingsBlocked:
https://attacker.robert-quintero.comUse a Whitelist Approach
Maintain an approved list of redirect destinations instead of accepting arbitrary URLs from users.
Avoid Direct URL Redirect Parameters
Use internal route identifiers instead of accepting complete URLs.
Example:
Before:
redirect=https://example.com/pageAfter:
redirect=dashboardProof of Concept (PoC) Evidence
The Proof of Concept demonstrates that:
✅ The application accepts a user-controlled redirect parameter.
✅ The application redirects users without validating the destination.
✅ An attacker can use this behavior to redirect users to external websites.
PoC Example:
https://target.robert-quintero.com/redirect?url=https://attacker.robert-quintero.comConclusion
The penetration test identified an Open Redirect vulnerability that could be leveraged for phishing and social engineering attacks.
Although this vulnerability does not directly compromise the application server, it can negatively affect users by abusing trust in the affected domain.
Immediate remediation is recommended by implementing strict redirect validation and trusted destination controls.
