CVE-2000-0397 in Emurl
Summary
by MITRE
The EMURL web-based email account software encodes predictable identifiers in user session URLs, which allows a remote attacker to access a user's email account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0397 resides within EMURL web-based email account software where session management flaws create predictable identifier patterns in user session URLs. This weakness fundamentally undermines the security of web applications by exposing session tokens through easily guessable URL parameters, allowing unauthorized access to user email accounts without proper authentication. The issue represents a critical failure in session management practices that violates fundamental web security principles and creates an avenue for session hijacking attacks.
This vulnerability stems from the predictable encoding of session identifiers within URL parameters rather than implementing secure session management mechanisms. The software generates session tokens that follow discernible patterns, making them susceptible to prediction by attackers who can construct valid session URLs to impersonate legitimate users. The flaw essentially transforms session management from a security control into a vulnerability, as the URL structure itself reveals the session state information. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in session management where predictable session identifiers are used, specifically categorized under CWE-613 Insufficient Session Expiration and CWE-310 Cryptographic Issues.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it enables remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to email accounts without requiring credentials or authentication. An attacker can simply observe or predict session identifiers from URL parameters and use them to access victim email accounts, potentially leading to data breaches, privacy violations, and unauthorized email communications. This vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of email communications, as attackers can read, modify, or delete email content, and may also exploit the compromised accounts for further malicious activities such as phishing attacks or social engineering campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the fundamental session management flaws within the EMURL software. Organizations should implement secure session management practices including the generation of cryptographically strong, unpredictable session identifiers that are not exposed in URL parameters. The software should utilize secure session tokens stored in HTTP-only cookies rather than URL-based identifiers, ensuring that session information remains hidden from users and attackers. Additionally, implementing proper session expiration mechanisms, enforcing secure cookie attributes such as HttpOnly and Secure flags, and establishing robust session validation procedures will significantly reduce the risk of session hijacking. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 Credential Access through Session Hijacking, emphasizing the need for proper session management as a defensive control. The remediation approach should also include regular security assessments to identify and address similar session management weaknesses that may exist in other web applications within the organization's infrastructure.