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Uncontrolled external site redirect - Host Header Injection

Description​

The server processes requests with the Host header set and redirects clients to any destination.

Impact​

  • Enumerate the internal network via trial and error.
  • Perform a subset of Server Side Request Forgery attacks.

Recommendation​

Configure server to prevent third party hosts redirection.

Threat​

Unauthorized attacker from internet network.

Expected Remediation Time​

⌚ 10 minutes.

Score​

Default score using CVSS 3.1. It may change depending on the context of the vulnerability.

Base​

  • Attack vector: A
  • Attack complexity: H
  • Privileges required: L
  • User interaction: R
  • Scope: U
  • Confidentiality: N
  • Integrity: L
  • Availability: N

Temporal​

  • Exploit code madurity: X
  • Remediation level: U
  • Report confidence: C

Result​

  • Vector string: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N/E:X/RL:U/RC:C
  • Score:
    • Base: 2.3
    • Temporal: 2.3
  • Severity:
    • Base: Low
    • Temporal: Low

Code Examples​

Compliant code​

The server should validate and prevent third party redirections. For example, by setting the correct http headers

GET http://localhost/
Validate HOST from ALLOWED_HOSTS

Non compliant code​

The server is wrongly configured to accept requests redirecting to other host

router.post("/", function (req, res, next) {
  ...code to handle the response not shown
  //UNSAFE: Redirecting users to third party website
  res.redirect("www.vulnerablehost.com")
});

module.exports = router;

Requirements​

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