CVE-2003-0538 in Mozart
Summary
by MITRE
The mailcap file for mozart 1.2.5 and earlier causes Oz applications to be passed to the Oz interpreter, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Oz programs in a MIME-aware client program.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-0538 represents a critical security flaw in the mozart mailcap file handling mechanism that affects versions 1.2.5 and earlier. This issue stems from improper MIME type handling within the Oz programming environment's integration with mail client applications. The mailcap file serves as a configuration mechanism that determines how different MIME types should be handled by client applications, and in this case, it incorrectly routes Oz application files to the Oz interpreter without proper validation or sandboxing measures.
The technical flaw manifests when a maliciously crafted mail message contains an Oz application file with a specific MIME type that maps to the Oz interpreter through the vulnerable mailcap configuration. When users open such messages in a MIME-aware client program, the system automatically passes the Oz application file to the Oz interpreter for execution. This creates a direct code execution pathway where remote attackers can craft malicious Oz programs that get executed in the context of the user's session, bypassing normal security boundaries that would typically prevent arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential system compromise and data theft. Since Oz applications can perform a wide range of operations including file system access, network communication, and process manipulation, attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, exfiltrate sensitive information, or deploy additional malicious payloads. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where users regularly handle email communications from untrusted sources, as the exploitation requires no user interaction beyond opening the malicious message.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-78 and CWE-79 categories, representing command injection and cross-site scripting flaws respectively, while also mapping to ATT&CK techniques such as T1059 for command and script injection and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation. The attack vector follows T1193 for exploitation of remote services and T1068 for local privilege escalation through malicious file execution. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to mozart versions 1.2.6 or later where the mailcap file handling has been properly secured, disabling automatic interpretation of unknown MIME types, and implementing strict content filtering policies for email attachments. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of opening untrusted email attachments remains critical in preventing exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities.