CVE-2005-0104 in SquirrelMail
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in webmail.php in SquirrelMail before 1.4.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via certain integer variables.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0104 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the SquirrelMail webmail application, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.4.4. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security issues. The vulnerability exists in the webmail.php component of SquirrelMail, making it accessible to attackers who can manipulate integer variables through the web interface. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML code into the application's output, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because SquirrelMail is a widely deployed webmail solution that provides email services through web interfaces, making it a common target for attackers seeking to exploit web application flaws.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the webmail.php script fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied integer variables before incorporating them into HTML output. When these variables are processed without adequate input validation or output encoding, attackers can inject malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The integer variables serve as entry points for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and inject crafted scripts. This type of injection typically occurs in parameters that are directly rendered in HTML pages without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to embed JavaScript code or HTML elements that execute when other users view the affected pages. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and other malicious activities that exploit the trust relationship between users and the webmail application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using affected SquirrelMail versions, as it creates a persistent security risk that can be exploited by attackers without requiring elevated privileges or specialized access. Attackers can craft malicious URLs or messages that, when viewed by unsuspecting users, execute unauthorized code in their browsers. This capability enables various attack vectors including phishing, session fixation, and data exfiltration. The vulnerability particularly affects users who are logged into SquirrelMail and view compromised pages, as the injected scripts execute with the privileges of the logged-in user. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to email accounts, potential data breaches, and compromised user sessions, especially in environments where users frequently access webmail from shared or public computers. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill, making it a popular target for automated attacks and script kiddies.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0104 should prioritize immediate patching of SquirrelMail installations to version 1.4.4 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar issues in other web applications, following the principle of least privilege and proper sanitization of all user-supplied data. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against XSS attacks by restricting script execution within web pages. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in web applications. Organizations should also establish secure coding practices that emphasize proper input validation, output encoding, and the use of established web application frameworks that provide built-in protection against common vulnerabilities like XSS. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping web applications updated and maintaining robust security practices throughout the software development lifecycle. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 for Phishing and T1071 for Application Layer Protocol, highlighting its role in attack chains that leverage web application weaknesses to compromise user systems and data.