CVE-2003-1551 in GroupWise
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Novell GroupWise 6 SP3 WebAccess before Revision F has unknown impact and attack vectors related to "malicious script."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1551 represents a security flaw within Novell GroupWise 6 SP3 WebAccess software prior to Revision F, specifically concerning malicious script execution. This unspecified vulnerability falls under the broader category of web application security issues that can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of enterprise communication systems. The affected version of GroupWise WebAccess operates as a web-based interface for accessing email and collaboration features, making it a potential target for attackers seeking to exploit weaknesses in the web application layer.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the GroupWise WebAccess implementation. When processing user-supplied data through web forms or URL parameters, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape script content, creating opportunities for cross-site scripting attacks. This flaw allows malicious actors to inject harmful scripts that can execute within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized access to sensitive corporate information. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified suggests that the exact technical mechanism remains undocumented, but the presence of malicious script execution capabilities indicates a fundamental weakness in the application's security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to compromise entire user sessions and access confidential email communications stored within the GroupWise environment. Given that GroupWise serves as a corporate email and collaboration platform, successful exploitation could result in significant data breaches affecting thousands of users within an organization. Attackers might leverage this vulnerability to steal authentication tokens, read sensitive emails, modify user permissions, or even gain access to additional network resources through compromised user accounts. The web-based nature of the interface makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without requiring physical access to the corporate network.
Organizations utilizing Novell GroupWise 6 SP3 WebAccess should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the available security patch Revision F, which addresses the unspecified vulnerability through enhanced input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering malicious script content before it reaches vulnerable applications. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within the organization. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and represents a typical entry point for attackers following the ATT&CK technique of Web Application Exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular security training for administrators to prevent social engineering attacks that might exploit this vulnerability. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the patched version to ensure that the security fix does not introduce compatibility issues with existing GroupWise functionality while maintaining the integrity of the web access interface.