CVE-2004-1177 in Mailman
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the driver script in mailman before 2.1.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a URL, which is not properly escaped in the resulting error page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1177 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that existed in the Mailman mailing list management software prior to version 2.1.5. This issue specifically affects the driver script component of Mailman, which serves as the primary interface for handling user interactions and processing requests within the system. The vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the error handling process of the software. When users attempt to access malformed or malicious URLs through the Mailman interface, the system fails to properly sanitize the input before displaying it in error messages, creating an opportunity for attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URL parameters that are processed by Mailman's driver script. When such malformed parameters are encountered, the system generates error pages that display the raw, unescaped input directly to users' browsers. This creates a condition where malicious code can be executed in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which specifically addresses the failure to properly escape user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant security risks to organizations utilizing Mailman for their mailing list management. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by unsuspecting users, would execute scripts in their browsers and potentially compromise user sessions. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting, redirection to malicious sites, or the establishment of persistent malicious presence within the organization's communication infrastructure. This vulnerability essentially undermines the trust model of the mailing list system, as users may unknowingly execute malicious code while interacting with legitimate mailing list interfaces.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning given the widespread use of Mailman in organizational and community email distribution systems. Security professionals should consider this issue in the context of broader web application security frameworks such as those defined in the ATT&CK matrix under the T1059.001 technique for command and scripting interpreter. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation flaws can create substantial security exposures, particularly in web applications that handle user-supplied data and generate dynamic content. Organizations should prioritize updating to Mailman 2.1.5 or later versions, which includes proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls, conducting regular security audits of web applications, and ensuring proper input validation at all entry points to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in other components of the system.