CVE-2004-2337 in inlook
Summary
by MITRE
the /.inlook/.crypt file for inlook 0.7.3 and earlier is installed with world readable permissions which allows local users to obtain user pop3 credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2337 represents a critical security flaw in the inlook email client version 0.7.3 and earlier, where the application fails to properly secure sensitive credential storage mechanisms. This issue manifests through the improper configuration of file permissions for the /.inlook/.crypt file which serves as the storage location for POP3 authentication credentials. The root cause stems from the application's installation process failing to establish appropriate access controls, leaving the credential file accessible to all local users on the system. This misconfiguration creates an inherent security risk that directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper file permissions as classified by CWE-732, which specifically addresses inadequate access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when local users can simply read the /.inlook/.crypt file through standard file system operations, thereby obtaining plaintext or encrypted POP3 credentials without requiring any special privileges or authentication mechanisms. This creates a privilege escalation scenario where users who may not have legitimate access to the target email accounts can gain unauthorized access to user mailboxes through the retrieved credentials. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft as these credentials can be used to access email accounts, potentially leading to data exfiltration, unauthorized communications, and further lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor security implementation during the application's installation phase.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on inlook email clients, particularly in multi-user environments where different users share the same system resources. The local nature of the attack means that any user with access to the system can exploit this flaw, making it particularly dangerous in shared computing environments or systems with weak access controls. The attack vector is straightforward and requires no specialized tools or knowledge beyond basic file system access, making it highly exploitable by both malicious actors and potentially automated attack scripts. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of email communications, as unauthorized access to user credentials can lead to complete compromise of email-based authentication systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2337 should focus on immediate remediation through proper file permission configuration and application updates. System administrators must ensure that the /.inlook/.crypt file is configured with restrictive permissions that limit access to only the intended user account and system administrators. The recommended approach includes implementing proper file ownership and access control lists that prevent unauthorized users from reading the credential file. Organizations should also consider upgrading to newer versions of inlook that address this permission issue, as well as implementing monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive configuration files. Additionally, the principle of defense in depth should be applied by implementing additional security controls such as mandatory access controls and regular security audits of application installations. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security configuration management and demonstrates how simple permission misconfigurations can lead to significant security breaches, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through unauthorized file access.