Phishing attacks exploiting open redirect vulnerabilities are experiencing a resurgence, as highlighted by Kroll’s Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) team. This trend underscores the importance for organizations to enhance their employees’ awareness and knowledge of detecting these vulnerabilities.
Open redirect flaws in web applications allow threat actors to manipulate genuine URLs, redirecting victims to malicious external URLs. George Glass, Kroll’s Head of Threat Intelligence, explains that these vulnerabilities arise when websites permit user-supplied input in redirect links without proper validation or sanitization.
The trustworthiness of the initial part of the URL often leads targets to trust the link, making them susceptible to redirection to malicious sites where attackers can steal sensitive information like login credentials and personal data.
Despite not being inherently malicious, URL redirection is commonly exploited by attackers, particularly through shortened URLs in phishing emails and messages. These shortened URLs, used by organizations for benign purposes, are often used to deceive recipients into clicking on malicious pages. The threat of open redirect vulnerabilities extends beyond email attacks, as phishers can employ these techniques on social media, forums, text messages, and enterprise tools to deliver convincing-looking links.
While organizations can implement email security tools to identify and block open redirect links, attackers can find ways to circumvent these defenses. Therefore, it’s crucial to complement technical measures with regular cybersecurity training for employees.
This training ensures that employees remain updated on evolving social engineering tactics used in malware distribution and phishing campaigns. Equipped with a deep understanding of potential threats, employees can serve as a critical line of defense and report suspicious activities effectively.
