CVE-2000-0910 in Horde
Summary
by MITRE
Horde library 1.02 allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the "from" address.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0910 resides within the Horde library version 1.02, a widely used web-based groupware suite that provided email, calendar, and contact management functionalities. This security flaw represents a critical command injection vulnerability that arises from inadequate input validation within the email processing components of the application. The vulnerability specifically affects how the system handles the "from" address field in email messages, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary system commands through the manipulation of shell metacharacters.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the library's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input when processing email headers, particularly the "from" address field. When the Horde library processes incoming email messages, it directly incorporates the "from" address value into shell commands without adequate filtering or escaping of special characters. This oversight enables attackers to inject shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks that are interpreted by the underlying shell, allowing for arbitrary command execution on the vulnerable system. The vulnerability manifests as a classic command injection flaw that aligns with CWE-77, which specifically addresses the execution of untrusted commands within a shell environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected system. Successful exploitation could enable unauthorized users to execute any command that the web server process has permissions to run, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or the establishment of persistent backdoors. Given that Horde was commonly deployed in shared hosting environments and enterprise settings, the potential for widespread impact was significant, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to compromise multiple systems within a network. The vulnerability also presents a substantial risk to email server integrity and can be exploited to send spam, conduct further attacks, or establish unauthorized access points.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the Horde library, which would include proper input sanitization and escaping mechanisms. The recommended approach involves implementing strict input validation that filters or escapes shell metacharacters before any processing occurs, along with employing principle of least privilege for web server processes to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation. Security configurations should also include monitoring for unusual command execution patterns and implementing network segmentation to limit lateral movement. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, emphasizing the need for robust sanitization of user inputs that may be processed by system commands.