CVE-2001-1445 in Domino Mail Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in the SMTP server in Lotus Domino 5.0 through 5.7 allows remote attackers to bypass mail relaying restrictions via crafted e-mail addresses in "RCPT TO" commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-1445 represents a critical security flaw in IBM Lotus Domino email server software versions 5.0 through 5.7. This issue specifically affects the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) server component that handles email relay operations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of recipient email addresses during the SMTP transaction process, particularly when processing the "RCPT TO" command which specifies the recipient of an email message. This weakness allows malicious actors to exploit the mail relaying mechanism by crafting specially formatted email addresses that bypass the server's intended access controls and restrictions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs at the SMTP protocol level where the Domino server fails to properly validate the recipient address format before permitting mail relaying. Attackers can construct email addresses that contain special characters or sequences that the server's validation logic does not properly handle, allowing them to relay messages through the server without proper authentication or authorization. This flaw directly relates to CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic case of insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data in network protocols. The vulnerability enables unauthorized relay of email messages, potentially allowing attackers to use the compromised server for spam distribution or to bypass normal email routing restrictions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on Domino servers for email services. Successful exploitation allows attackers to use the server as an open relay, potentially enabling large-scale spam distribution, phishing campaigns, or other malicious activities that can damage the organization's reputation and violate anti-spam regulations. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the email infrastructure and can lead to denial of service conditions if the server becomes overwhelmed with relayed messages. Organizations may face legal and regulatory consequences if their email servers are used for malicious activities, as the compromised system could be traced back to their network infrastructure. This issue also represents a violation of the principle of least privilege in network security, where unauthorized parties gain access to server functions that should be restricted.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of security patches provided by IBM for affected Lotus Domino versions, as well as network-level restrictions such as implementing proper firewall rules to limit access to SMTP ports and configuring the server to reject relay requests from unauthorized sources. Administrators should also implement strict email address validation policies and monitor SMTP transaction logs for suspicious activities. The fix involves updating the SMTP server logic to properly validate recipient addresses and reject malformed or potentially malicious address formats during the RCPT TO command processing. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as SMTP authentication, rate limiting for relay requests, and regular security audits of email server configurations to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper protocol implementation and input validation in network security systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in email servers and T1078 for gaining access through valid accounts or services.