CVE-2002-2165 in IMHO
Summary
by MITRE
The IMHO Webmail module 0.97.3 and earlier for Roxen leaks the REFERER from the browser s previous login session in an error page, which allows local users to read another user s inbox.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2165 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the IMHO Webmail module version 0.97.3 and earlier implementations running on the Roxen web server platform. This security weakness stems from improper handling of HTTP referer headers during error conditions, creating an unintended data leakage mechanism that compromises user session isolation and privacy. The vulnerability specifically affects webmail systems where session management and user authentication are critical components of the security architecture.
The technical flaw manifests when the webmail module encounters an error condition and displays an error page that inadvertently includes the referer header from the previous user session. This referer header typically contains sensitive information about the user's navigation path, including potentially sensitive URLs that may reveal the location of the user's inbox or other private email content. The flaw occurs because the error handling mechanism does not properly sanitize or filter the referer information before displaying it in the error context, creating a direct information disclosure channel that bypasses normal authentication and authorization controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to represent a serious breach of user privacy and session isolation principles. Local users who can access the error page can potentially read another user's inbox contents by leveraging the leaked referer information, effectively undermining the fundamental security assumptions of webmail systems. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer and requires minimal privileges to exploit, making it accessible to attackers who may have limited system access but can still trigger error conditions. The flaw essentially creates a cross-user information leakage scenario that violates basic security principles of user separation and data confidentiality.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and demonstrates how improper error handling can lead to unintended information disclosure. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers "Phishing," as the leaked information could potentially be used to craft more sophisticated social engineering attacks. The weakness specifically relates to improper sanitization of user-supplied data in error contexts, making it a variant of CWE-116, "Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output," and CWE-79, "Cross-site Scripting." Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement patches to update the IMHO Webmail module to versions that properly sanitize referer headers in error conditions, while also reviewing their error handling mechanisms to ensure no other similar information leakage paths exist. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual error page access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and security awareness training should emphasize the importance of proper error handling in preventing information disclosure attacks.