CVE-2002-1271 in perl-mailtools
Summary
by MITRE
The Mail::Mailer Perl module in the perl-MailTools package 1.47 and earlier uses mailx as the default mailer, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands by inserting them into the mail body, which is then processed by mailx.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1271 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Mail::Mailer Perl module, specifically affecting versions 1.47 and earlier within the perl-MailTools package. This vulnerability stems from the module's default configuration that utilizes the mailx command-line utility for sending email messages, creating an exploitable condition where malicious input can be executed within the context of the mailx process. The flaw occurs when user-supplied data containing command injection payloads is included in the email body, which is then processed by the mailx utility, leading to arbitrary code execution on the affected system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the level of email processing utilities, allowing attackers to leverage seemingly benign email transmission mechanisms to gain unauthorized system access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in a command, specifically in the context of command injection. The flaw manifests when the Mail::Mailer module passes user-controllable data directly to the mailx command without proper sanitization or validation of command-line arguments. The mailx utility, when invoked through the Perl module, processes the email body content as if it were command-line parameters, enabling attackers to inject shell commands that will execute with the privileges of the user running the mailx process. This represents a classic example of a command injection vulnerability where the application fails to properly separate command execution from data input, allowing an attacker to manipulate the execution flow of the underlying system commands.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-1271 extends beyond simple command execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including privilege escalation, data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, and persistence establishment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the mailx process, which typically runs with the permissions of the user who installed the perl-MailTools package. This could result in complete system compromise if the mailx process runs with elevated privileges, or at minimum allow the attacker to gain access to sensitive information and potentially pivot to other systems within the network. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where email processing is automated or where the application handles untrusted email content from external sources, as it provides a direct path for remote code execution without requiring authentication or specialized access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate exploitation risk and the underlying architectural flaw in the Mail::Mailer module's implementation. The primary and most effective mitigation involves upgrading to a patched version of the perl-MailTools package that either removes the default mailx dependency or properly sanitizes input before passing it to system commands. Organizations should also implement input validation and sanitization measures at the application level, ensuring that any user-controllable data passed to email processing functions is properly escaped or filtered to prevent command injection. Network-level protections such as email filtering and sandboxing of email processing components can provide additional defense-in-depth layers, while monitoring for unusual command execution patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and script injection, and defensive measures should focus on preventing the execution of unauthorized commands through email processing workflows. System administrators should also consider implementing principle of least privilege for mail processing utilities and regularly audit email handling code for similar injection vulnerabilities that could provide alternative attack vectors.