CVE-2001-1286 in IMail
Summary
by MITRE
Ipswitch IMail 7.04 and earlier stores a user s session ID in a URL, which could allow remote attackers to hijack sessions by obtaining the URL, e.g. via an HTML email that causes the Referrer to be sent to a URL under the attacker s control.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1286 represents a critical session management flaw in Ipswitch IMail 7.04 and earlier versions that fundamentally compromises the security of web-based authentication systems. This issue stems from the improper handling of session identifiers within the application's URL structure, creating an exploitable condition that allows unauthorized parties to gain access to user sessions through simple means of URL interception. The flaw operates at the intersection of web application security and session management practices, where session identifiers should remain opaque and secure within the application's internal state rather than being exposed in cleartext within URLs. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles regarding session token management and represents a classic example of insecure session handling that has been documented in various security frameworks including the OWASP Top Ten and CWE-384.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's web interface storing session identifiers as URL parameters rather than utilizing secure server-side session storage mechanisms. When users authenticate to the IMail web interface, their session ID becomes embedded within the URL structure, making it susceptible to exposure through various attack vectors including email-based reconnaissance, web server logging, browser history, and network traffic interception. The specific mechanism exploited involves attackers crafting malicious HTML emails that contain links pointing to URLs with embedded session identifiers, which then get transmitted to attacker-controlled web servers through HTTP referrer headers. This approach leverages the inherent trust relationships within web protocols and demonstrates how simple implementation flaws can create significant security risks. The vulnerability operates under the broader category of session hijacking attacks and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1563.002 for Credential Access through session hijacking, while also mapping to CWE-613 for Insufficient Session Expiration and CWE-287 for Improper Authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access to email accounts, as it creates a persistent security risk that can be exploited across multiple user sessions within the affected system. Attackers can maintain access to compromised accounts for extended periods, potentially gaining access to sensitive email communications, personal data, and business information stored within the IMail system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, making it attractive to both automated attack tools and less sophisticated threat actors. The exposure of session identifiers through URLs creates a cascading effect where even a single compromised session can provide access to multiple accounts if users share similar session management patterns or if the system lacks proper session isolation mechanisms. This vulnerability also impacts the broader security posture of organizations relying on IMail, as it demonstrates the critical importance of proper session management and the potential for seemingly minor implementation flaws to create substantial security breaches that can persist for extended periods without detection.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-1286 require immediate implementation of secure session management practices that eliminate the exposure of session identifiers in URLs. Organizations should upgrade to patched versions of Ipswitch IMail that properly implement server-side session storage and utilize secure session management protocols that do not embed session tokens in URL parameters. The recommended approach involves implementing proper session handling mechanisms that store session identifiers in secure cookies with appropriate security attributes including HttpOnly, Secure, and SameSite flags to prevent cross-site scripting and session hijacking attacks. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block URL-based session identifier exposure, while monitoring for unusual referrer header patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Session Management Cheat Sheet and implementing proper input validation and output encoding to prevent session token leakage. The remediation process should include comprehensive security testing of web applications to identify similar session management vulnerabilities, and organizations should establish regular security auditing procedures to ensure that session handling mechanisms remain secure against evolving threat landscapes.