CVE-2024-54050 Overview
Adobe Connect versions 12.6, 11.4.7, and earlier contain a URL Redirection to Untrusted Site vulnerability, commonly referred to as an Open Redirect flaw [CWE-601]. An attacker can craft a malicious URL that leverages the trusted Adobe Connect domain to redirect victims to attacker-controlled sites. Successful exploitation requires user interaction, typically by clicking a manipulated link delivered through phishing or social engineering. The flaw is network-exploitable and enables downstream credential harvesting, malware delivery, or reputation abuse of the Adobe Connect brand.
Critical Impact
Attackers can abuse the trust of the Adobe Connect domain to redirect authenticated and unauthenticated users to phishing or malware distribution sites.
Affected Products
- Adobe Connect version 12.6
- Adobe Connect version 11.4.7 and earlier
- Adobe Connect on-premise and hosted deployments running affected builds
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-12-10 - CVE-2024-54050 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2024-12-10 - Adobe releases security advisory APSB24-99
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-54050
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a classic Open Redirect flaw in Adobe Connect's web interface. Adobe Connect accepts a redirect target parameter in a URL and forwards the user to that destination without adequate validation against an allow-list of trusted domains. Attackers craft URLs that appear to originate from a legitimate Adobe Connect host but ultimately deliver the victim to an arbitrary attacker-controlled site.
Open Redirect flaws are frequently chained with phishing campaigns. The victim sees a trusted domain in the initial link, which increases click-through rates and bypasses naive URL reputation filters. The scope change indicated in the CVE metadata reflects that the redirect can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component itself, notably the user's browser session and any credentials entered on the destination site.
Exploitation requires user interaction, which limits automated mass exploitation but aligns with targeted phishing tradecraft. No authentication is required to construct the malicious URL.
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient validation of user-supplied input used to construct HTTP redirect responses. Adobe Connect does not restrict the redirect target to a whitelist of internal paths or approved external domains, allowing arbitrary absolute URLs to be supplied and honored.
Attack Vector
An attacker constructs a URL pointing to the vulnerable Adobe Connect endpoint with a redirect parameter set to an attacker-controlled domain. The attacker distributes the URL through email, messaging platforms, or malicious advertising. When the victim clicks the link, the Adobe Connect server issues an HTTP redirect that transports the browser to the attacker's site, which typically imitates the Adobe Connect login page or delivers a malware payload.
The vulnerability manifests in the redirect-handling logic of the Adobe Connect web interface. See the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-99 for vendor-supplied technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-54050
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP 302 or 307 responses from Adobe Connect endpoints containing Location headers pointing to external, non-Adobe domains
- Inbound requests to Adobe Connect URLs containing redirect parameters with fully-qualified external URLs as values
- Referrer logs on external phishing infrastructure showing Adobe Connect hostnames as the source
Detection Strategies
- Inspect Adobe Connect web server access logs for redirect parameters carrying absolute URLs to third-party domains
- Correlate email gateway telemetry with URLs matching Adobe Connect hostnames paired with suspicious query strings
- Deploy web proxy rules that flag redirect chains originating from Adobe Connect and terminating at low-reputation destinations
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose HTTP request and response logging on Adobe Connect front-end servers to capture redirect targets
- Forward web server and proxy logs to a centralized analytics platform for correlation with phishing threat intelligence
- Alert on user reports of suspicious Adobe Connect meeting invitations that redirect to unfamiliar login portals
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-54050
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Adobe Connect to the fixed release identified in Adobe advisory APSB24-99
- Inventory all Adobe Connect deployments, including on-premise and hosted instances, and confirm version levels
- Notify end users and meeting hosts about the risk of phishing links that appear to originate from Adobe Connect
Patch Information
Adobe published fixed builds and remediation guidance in Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-99. Administrators should apply the vendor-supplied update to Adobe Connect 12.6 and 11.4.7 deployments as prioritized in the advisory.
Workarounds
- Restrict outbound redirects at the web application firewall by blocking Adobe Connect responses whose Location header points to non-approved domains
- Train users to hover over links and verify the final destination before authenticating on any page presented after clicking an Adobe Connect URL
- Deploy email security controls that rewrite and inspect URLs, including redirect chains, before delivery to end users
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
