CVE-2004-1101 in Mailpost
Summary
by MITRE
mailpost.exe in MailPost 5.1.1sv, and possibly earlier versions, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (server crash), leak sensitive pathname information in the resulting error message, and execute a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack via an HTTP request that contains a / (backslash) and arbitrary webscript before the requested file, which leaks the pathname and does not quote the script in the resulting Visual Basic error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1101 affects MailPost 5.1.1sv and potentially earlier versions of the email server software, presenting a critical security flaw that combines multiple attack vectors including denial of service, information disclosure, and cross-site scripting. This vulnerability resides in the mailpost.exe component which processes HTTP requests and handles file access operations. The flaw manifests when an attacker crafts a specific HTTP request containing a backslash character followed by arbitrary web script code before the requested file path, creating a chain of security issues that can be exploited remotely without authentication.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output encoding within the MailPost application's request processing pipeline. When the system encounters a request with a backslash followed by script code, it fails to properly sanitize the input before processing, leading to a situation where the application attempts to resolve the file path while simultaneously executing the injected script code. This creates a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability where the script executes in the context of the victim's browser when the error message is displayed. The application's error handling mechanism becomes particularly problematic as it does not properly quote or escape the script content in the resulting Visual Basic error message, allowing the malicious code to execute in the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it provides attackers with multiple attack surfaces for exploitation. The denial of service component can cause the MailPost server to crash and restart, disrupting email services and potentially creating availability issues for legitimate users. The sensitive pathname information leakage represents a significant information disclosure vulnerability that can expose the server's file system structure, including directory paths and potentially sensitive file locations. This information can be used by attackers to plan more sophisticated attacks or to identify other potential vulnerabilities within the system. The cross-site scripting component allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in the browsers of users who view the error messages, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further compromise of the affected systems.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 Cross-site Scripting and CWE-20 Improper Input Validation categories, demonstrating how poor input sanitization can lead to multiple security issues. The attack pattern follows the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1211 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code in user browsers. The vulnerability also relates to T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it affects a service accessible over the network. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and proper error handling mechanisms. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to a patched version of MailPost or implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block such malformed requests before they reach the vulnerable application. Additionally, administrators should ensure that error messages do not contain sensitive path information and that all user input is properly sanitized before processing to prevent similar issues in other applications.