CVE-2003-0241 in Goldmine
Summary
by MITRE
FrontRange GoldMine mail agent 5.70 and 6.00 before 30503 directly sends HTML to the default browser without setting its security zone or otherwise labeling it untrusted, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a message that is rendered in IE using a less secure zone.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0241 affects FrontRange GoldMine mail agent versions 5.70 and 6.00 prior to build 30503, representing a critical security flaw in how the application handles HTML content delivery to web browsers. This issue stems from the mail agent's improper handling of HTML messages that are automatically rendered within Internet Explorer's browser environment, creating a dangerous execution context that can be exploited by remote attackers.
The technical flaw manifests when the mail agent processes HTML content and directly passes it to the default browser without implementing proper security zone classification or trust labeling mechanisms. This behavior violates fundamental security principles by failing to establish appropriate security boundaries between trusted and untrusted content. The vulnerability specifically targets Internet Explorer's security model where content rendered in less secure zones can execute malicious code with elevated privileges. According to CWE-200, this represents a weakness in the security configuration where sensitive information or execution contexts are improperly managed, while the ATT&CK framework categorizes this under privilege escalation and code execution through browser-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote code execution attacks without requiring user interaction beyond receiving a specially crafted email message. Attackers can construct HTML messages that, when rendered by Internet Explorer, automatically execute malicious scripts or binaries with the privileges of the logged-in user. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where GoldMine mail agents are deployed, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between the mail application and the browser, bypassing traditional security controls that might otherwise prevent such attacks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched version 30503 or later, which properly configures security zones for rendered HTML content. Additional protective measures include configuring Internet Explorer security settings to enforce stricter zone isolation, implementing email content filtering to block potentially malicious HTML content, and educating users about the risks of opening untrusted email messages. Network-based solutions such as email security gateways and web proxies can provide additional layers of protection by sanitizing HTML content before it reaches end-user systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper security context management in application design and highlights the need for applications to implement robust security controls when integrating with browser-based rendering engines.