CVE-2003-0160 in SquirrelMail
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in SquirrelMail before 1.2.11 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML code and steal information from a client s web browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0160 represents a critical security flaw in SquirrelMail web-based email client software prior to version 1.2.11. This issue manifests as multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that enable remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of a victim's web browser. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the SquirrelMail application, creating an environment where attacker-controlled data can be injected into web pages without proper security restrictions. These XSS vulnerabilities specifically affect the email client's handling of user-supplied data in various web interface components, including message composition forms, address book entries, and other interactive elements where user input is processed and displayed.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious actor crafts specially formatted input that includes HTML or JavaScript code within email messages or web interface fields. When a victim accesses the compromised SquirrelMail interface, the injected code executes in their browser context, potentially allowing attackers to perform actions such as reading cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information stored in the browser. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged from any location with network access to the vulnerable web server. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications, and represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of input validation and output encoding.
The operational impact of CVE-2003-0160 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass a wide range of potential attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to establish persistent access to user accounts, monitor email communications, and potentially escalate privileges within the email system. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on SquirrelMail for email services, particularly those with less sophisticated security monitoring capabilities. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where email serves as a primary communication channel and contains sensitive business information. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which covers the use of malicious code to gain access to credentials and session information through web application attacks.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to SquirrelMail version 1.2.11 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerabilities. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies, deploying web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing proper input validation at all levels of application development. Security teams should also consider implementing browser-based security controls such as XSS protection headers and regular monitoring for suspicious activities in email systems. Organizations using older versions of SquirrelMail should also evaluate their overall web application security posture and consider migrating to more modern email solutions with better security track records and more frequent security updates.