CVE-2018-6520: Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp SimpleSAMLphp Open Redirection Protection Bypass Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-2qfc-48v5-4w5h
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CVSS 6.1
CWE-601
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2018-6520 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.1) simplesamlphp open redirection protection bypass vulnerability (CWE-601: URL Redirection to Untrusted Site ('Open Redirect')) affecting Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves simplesamlphp open redirection protection bypass. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.15.2.

CVE-2018-6520 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2018-6520
GHSA Identifier GHSA-2qfc-48v5-4w5h
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.1
CWE Classification CWE-601: URL Redirection to Untrusted Site ('Open Redirect')
Affected Product Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.1

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2018-6520

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp fixed: 1.15.2 
Upgrade simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp to 1.15.2
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2018-6520, inspect your project dependencies for Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp:

inspect dependencies for simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.15.2), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-601: URL Redirection to Untrusted Site ('Open Redirect'), where the web application accepts a user-controlled input that specifies a link to an external site, and uses that link in a redirect. In Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

SimpleSAMLphp before 1.15.2 allows remote attackers to bypass an open redirect protection mechanism via crafted authority data in a URL.

CVE-2018-6520 Affected Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.15.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp
 Packagist
< 1.15.2
1.15.2

References

NVD — CVE-2018-6520 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-6520
Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp/issues/1473
Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/FriendsOfPHP/security-advisories/blob/master/simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp/CVE-2018-6520.yaml
Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp
Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp Security Information SECURITY
https://simplesamlphp.org/security/201801-02

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2018-6520?
CVE-2018-6520 is a security vulnerability in Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp involving SimpleSAMLphp Open redirection protection bypass under CWE-601: URL Redirection to Untrusted Site ('Open Redirect').
Which Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.15.2 across affected packages: simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp.
What version fixes CVE-2018-6520?
Upgrading to 1.15.2 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp affected?
Yes, simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp is affected in releases prior to 1.15.2. Upgrade your dependency to 1.15.2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2018-6520?
CVE-2018-6520 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.1 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2018-6520?
CVE-2018-6520 is classified under CWE-601: URL Redirection to Untrusted Site ('Open Redirect') (The web application accepts a user-controlled input that specifies a link to an external site, and uses that link in a redirect.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2018-6520?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-2qfc-48v5-4w5h",
  "modified" : "2024-04-25T21:36:41Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T03:44:35Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2018-6520" ],
  "summary" : "SimpleSAMLphp Open redirection protection bypass",
  "details" : "SimpleSAMLphp before 1.15.2 allows remote attackers to bypass an open redirect protection mechanism via crafted authority data in a URL.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.15.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-6520"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp/issues/1473"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/FriendsOfPHP/security-advisories/blob/master/simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp/CVE-2018-6520.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://simplesamlphp.org/security/201801-02"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-601" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-04-25T21:36:41Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2018-02-02T01:29:00Z"
  }
}