CVE-2005-0846 in SurgeMail
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the email auto-reply message in SurgeMail 2.2g3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) message subject or (2) message header field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0846 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the SurgeMail email server software version 2.2g3. This flaw exists in the email auto-reply functionality where the system fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into outgoing email messages. The vulnerability specifically affects two distinct input vectors: the message subject field and the message header field, creating multiple attack surfaces for malicious actors to exploit. The security implications are severe as this allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code that can be executed by unsuspecting recipients who view the auto-reply messages.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications and email systems. When SurgeMail processes email auto-replies, it directly incorporates user-supplied data without adequate input validation or output encoding mechanisms. This creates an environment where malicious actors can craft specially formatted email subjects or headers containing script tags, javascript code, or other malicious HTML content. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through simple email transmission without requiring authentication or privileged access to the mail server itself.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform session hijacking, redirect users to malicious websites, or execute browser-based attacks against the recipients of auto-reply messages. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in corporate environments where email auto-replies are frequently used for automated responses to customer inquiries or system notifications. The attack surface is broad as any user who receives an auto-reply message generated by the vulnerable SurgeMail system becomes a potential victim of the XSS payload. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor input handling practices that violate fundamental security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and other industry standards for secure coding practices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the SurgeMail software to version 2.2g4 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement input validation and output encoding mechanisms at the application level to prevent similar issues in other email systems. Network administrators should consider implementing email filtering rules that scan for suspicious script tags in email headers and subjects. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding as fundamental security measures that should be applied to all user-supplied data processing within email systems. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments of email infrastructure to identify similar weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing email workflows while maintaining the security posture of the email infrastructure.