CVE-2002-1307 in MHonArc
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability (XSS) in MHonArc 2.5.12 and earlier allows remote attackers to insert script or HTML via an email message with the script in a MIME header name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1307 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that existed within MHonArc version 2.5.12 and earlier installations. This security weakness specifically targets the email archiving and formatting application that was widely used for converting email messages into web-accessible formats. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of data within MIME header names, creating an exploitable condition where malicious actors can inject arbitrary script code into email messages that are subsequently processed by the archiving application.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when MHonArc processes email messages containing specially crafted MIME header names that contain script code or HTML content. When the application encounters these malformed header names during the archiving process, it fails to properly sanitize or escape the input data before rendering it in the generated web pages. This allows attackers to embed malicious JavaScript code or HTML tags within the header fields of email messages, which then gets executed when users view the archived email content through a web browser. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of header names rather than the message body, making it particularly insidious as it can be triggered through legitimate email headers that users might encounter during normal email operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. When users browse archived email messages containing the malicious headers, their browsers execute the injected scripts in the context of the vulnerable web application, potentially compromising user sessions and exposing sensitive information. The vulnerability affects both the email archiving functionality and the web interface that displays the archived messages, creating a vector for persistent attacks against users who access the archived content. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Phishing through Social Engineering.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected MHonArc installations to version 2.5.13 or later, which contained the necessary input sanitization fixes. Organizations should also implement additional protective measures including web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script patterns in HTTP headers, input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture, and regular security assessments of email archiving systems. Network administrators should consider implementing header filtering rules to prevent the processing of email messages containing suspicious header patterns, while security teams should conduct thorough audits of all email processing systems to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating all user-supplied input, particularly in applications that generate dynamic web content from email data, and serves as a reminder of the potential consequences when security controls fail to properly sanitize data at all processing points within an application stack.