CVE-2005-1129 in egroupware
Summary
by MITRE
egroupware 1.0.6 and earlier when an e-mail is composed with an attachment but not sent will send that attachment in the next e-mail which may cause sensitive information to be sent to the wrong recipient.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1129 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the egroupware email client version 1.0.6 and earlier. This issue stems from a design flaw in how the software handles email composition sessions, specifically when attachments are added to messages that are never actually sent. The vulnerability operates through a session management failure where the system retains attachment data even after an email composition session is abandoned or interrupted, leading to unintended data exposure during subsequent email transmissions.
This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-200, which categorizes weaknesses related to information exposure, and more specifically to CWE-614, which addresses sensitive data exposure through improper session management. The flaw exploits the lack of proper cleanup mechanisms in the email client's temporary storage handling, where attachment metadata and file references persist in memory or temporary storage areas even when users abandon email composition. The operational impact extends beyond simple data leakage, as it creates a scenario where users may inadvertently expose sensitive information through seemingly routine email operations.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs when a user begins composing an email with an attachment but decides not to send it, perhaps due to a mistake or interruption in the email process. During this abandonment, the system fails to properly clear the attachment references from its temporary storage, leaving the attachment data in a state where it becomes automatically included in the next email composition session. This creates a cascading effect where sensitive documents, confidential communications, or proprietary information can be transmitted without the user's knowledge or explicit consent, particularly when the user proceeds to compose another email immediately after.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering through email, as it represents a form of automated information leakage that can occur without user awareness. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through simple user interaction patterns rather than requiring complex attack vectors, making it a significant risk for organizations handling sensitive data. The flaw essentially creates a persistent data leak mechanism that operates automatically within the email client's normal operation flow.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to egroupware versions that address this session management flaw, implementing email content filtering systems that can detect and prevent unauthorized data transmission, and establishing user awareness training programs to educate staff about the potential for inadvertent data exposure. The system should also be configured with proper session timeout mechanisms and automatic cleanup procedures for temporary email attachments. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual email transmission patterns that might indicate this vulnerability being exploited, particularly focusing on unexpected attachment inclusion in emails that would normally be sent to different recipients than the one who actually received the attachment.