CVE-2001-1281 in IMail
Summary
by MITRE
Web Messaging Server for Ipswitch IMail 7.04 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to change information for other users by modifying the olduser parameter in the "Change User Information" web form.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1281 represents a critical authorization flaw within the Web Messaging Server component of Ipswitch IMail version 7.04 and earlier. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms that fail to properly verify user permissions when processing requests to modify user account information through the web interface. The vulnerability specifically affects the "Change User Information" web form where the system does not adequately validate whether the authenticated user has proper authorization to modify the account details of another user.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs through parameter manipulation within the web application's user management interface. When a remote authenticated user submits a request to change user information, the system accepts the olduser parameter without proper validation of the requesting user's privileges. This allows an attacker who has gained legitimate access to the system to manipulate the olduser parameter to target accounts belonging to other users. The vulnerability essentially enables privilege escalation through unauthorized account modification, where an authenticated user can effectively impersonate or modify any other user's account information within the IMail system.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant security risks to organizations using affected versions of IMail. The flaw enables attackers to potentially compromise multiple user accounts, modify sensitive information, change passwords, or manipulate user permissions without proper authorization. This could lead to unauthorized access to confidential email communications, data breaches, and potential system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authenticated access to exploit, meaning that an attacker who has obtained legitimate user credentials can leverage this flaw to escalate their privileges and access other users' accounts. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can enable further attacks including account takeover, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within the network.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses insufficient authorization issues in software systems, and demonstrates a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. The flaw also maps to several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through manipulation of system parameters and credential access through account manipulation. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for IMail 7.05 and later versions, implementing proper input validation controls, and strengthening access controls within the web interface. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of web application traffic should be enhanced to detect unauthorized parameter manipulation attempts. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar authorization flaws in other web applications and services within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper access control implementation and input validation in web applications to prevent unauthorized access to system resources and user data.