CVE-2001-1537 in Twig
Summary
by MITRE
The default "basic" security setting in config.php for TWIG webmail 2.7.4 and earlier stores cleartext usernames and passwords in cookies, which could allow attackers to obtain authentication information and gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1537 resides within the TWIG webmail application version 2.7.4 and earlier, specifically concerning its default security configuration in the config.php file. This flaw represents a critical security oversight that directly impacts authentication mechanisms and user privilege management. The vulnerability stems from the application's default "basic" security setting which fails to properly secure sensitive authentication data, creating an exploitable condition that compromises user accounts and system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the insecure storage of cleartext credentials within browser cookies. When users authenticate to the TWIG webmail system, their usernames and passwords are stored in unencrypted format within HTTP cookies that persist across browser sessions. This design flaw violates fundamental security principles for credential handling and demonstrates poor implementation of authentication state management. The cleartext storage of credentials in cookies creates a persistent attack surface where malicious actors can easily extract authentication information through various means including cookie interception, browser-based attacks, or client-side exploitation techniques.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to obtain legitimate user credentials and subsequently gain unauthorized access to email accounts and associated privileges. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft as compromised accounts can be used for further attacks including email spoofing, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the email system. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected TWIG webmail versions, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone who gains access to the target system or network environment. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and represents a classic example of insecure credential storage practices that have been consistently identified as high-risk security flaws in web applications.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including credential access through credential dumping and credential harvesting via web application attacks. Attackers can leverage this flaw through various methods including man-in-the-middle attacks, cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, or by directly accessing browser cookie stores. The persistence of cleartext credentials in cookies also enables attackers to maintain long-term access to compromised accounts, as the credentials remain valid across multiple sessions and do not require frequent re-authentication. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authentication design and the necessity of implementing secure credential storage mechanisms such as encrypted session tokens, secure cookie attributes, and proper encryption of sensitive data at rest.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of TWIG webmail, implementing secure cookie settings with HttpOnly and Secure flags, and establishing proper credential rotation procedures. The remediation process should also include reviewing all default security configurations and ensuring that sensitive data is never stored in cleartext formats within client-side storage mechanisms. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential cookie interception attempts and unauthorized access patterns that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.