CVE-2002-1415 in WebEasyMail
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in SMTP service for WebEasyMail 3.4.2.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via format strings in SMTP requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1415 represents a critical format string flaw within the SMTP service component of WebEasyMail version 3.4.2.2 and earlier systems. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and occurs when an application uses user-supplied data directly in format string functions without proper sanitization. The specific implementation flaw exists in how the SMTP service processes incoming requests, particularly when handling malformed format specifiers in email headers or commands. Such vulnerabilities are classified under CWE-134 which specifically addresses the use of user-supplied format strings in functions like printf, sprintf, or other similar formatting routines. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject specially crafted format specifiers that can manipulate the program's execution flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enabling remote code execution on vulnerable systems. When an attacker sends a malformed SMTP request containing format string specifiers, the vulnerable WebEasyMail service processes these inputs directly without proper validation, leading to unpredictable behavior in the application's memory management. This can result in stack corruption, memory access violations, or even allow attackers to overwrite critical memory locations with malicious payloads. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in network environments where SMTP services are exposed to untrusted users or external networks. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a technique categorized under T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution and T1499 - Endpoint Termination, where adversaries can leverage such flaws to gain unauthorized access or disrupt service availability.
Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting specially formatted SMTP requests that contain format string specifiers such as %x, %s, or %n which are typically used to control output formatting in C-style string functions. When these malformed requests are processed by the vulnerable SMTP service, they can cause the application to read from or write to arbitrary memory locations, potentially leading to crashes or more severe consequences. The vulnerability affects systems where WebEasyMail is installed and configured to accept SMTP connections from external sources, making it particularly concerning for organizations with internet-facing mail servers. Organizations running affected versions should consider immediate remediation measures including applying vendor patches, implementing network segmentation, or disabling unnecessary SMTP services to prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper error handling in network services, as well as the critical need for regular security assessments and patch management processes to protect against known exploits.