CVE-2002-1527 in Emu Webmail
Summary
by MITRE
emumail.cgi in EMU Webmail 5.0 allows remote attackers to determine the full pathname for emumail.cgi via a malformed string containing script, which generates a regular expression matching error that includes the pathname in the resulting error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1527 affects EMU Webmail version 5.0 through a flaw in the emumail.cgi script that processes user input without proper sanitization. This issue represents a classic path disclosure vulnerability where malicious actors can exploit a malformed string input to trigger a regular expression matching error. The error message generation process inadvertently includes the full pathname of the emumail.cgi file within the error output, exposing sensitive system information to remote attackers. This vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure flaws that can provide attackers with critical system path information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the script's insufficient input validation mechanisms. When a malformed string containing script elements is submitted to the emumail.cgi application, the system attempts to process this input through a regular expression matching function. The processing fails due to the malformed input, causing the application to generate an error message that contains the absolute path to the emumail.cgi file. This occurs because the error handling routine does not properly sanitize or filter the input before incorporating it into the error message output. The vulnerability is classified as a path disclosure issue that can be leveraged to gather system information that would otherwise remain hidden from unauthorized users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical system path information that can be used in subsequent exploitation attempts. Knowledge of the full pathname allows attackers to craft more sophisticated attacks by understanding the application's directory structure and potentially identifying other files or directories that may contain sensitive information. This information disclosure can serve as a stepping stone for attackers to plan further reconnaissance activities or to exploit other vulnerabilities within the same application or system. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-209, which describes error handling issues that can lead to information exposure through error messages.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the broader attack surface and its potential integration with other exploitation techniques. The information disclosure aspect of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers the discovery of system information through various reconnaissance methods. Organizations using EMU Webmail 5.0 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation improvements, error message sanitization, and proper logging of suspicious input patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper error handling practices and the need for applications to avoid exposing internal system paths in error messages to prevent attackers from gaining insights into the application's structure and deployment environment.
The remediation approach should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms that prevent malformed strings from reaching the regular expression processing components. Application developers should ensure that error handling routines do not include user-supplied input in error messages without proper sanitization. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms to prevent malicious payloads from reaching vulnerable applications. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for secure coding practices and proper error handling implementation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security principles and industry best practices for web application security.