CVE-2005-1282 in Mail Server
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Argosoft Mail Server Pro 1.8.7.6 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the src parameter in an IMG tag, (2) User settings, or (3) Address book input boxes in the webmail interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2019
The CVE-2005-1282 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Argosoft Mail Server Pro version 1.8.7.6, a widely used email server solution that was prevalent in enterprise environments during the mid-2000s. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the webmail interface, creating exploitable entry points that could be leveraged by remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects three distinct input vectors within the webmail application, making it particularly dangerous as it provides multiple attack surfaces for threat actors to exploit. The flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, commonly known as cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through three primary attack vectors that collectively undermine the security of the webmail interface. The first vector involves the src parameter in IMG tags, where attackers can inject malicious scripts through image source URLs that are not properly validated or escaped before being rendered in the browser. The second vector targets user settings configuration pages, where unfiltered input allows attackers to inject malicious code into user profile fields that are subsequently displayed without proper sanitization. The third vector affects address book input boxes, where contact information fields receive insufficient validation, enabling attackers to store malicious scripts within the address book entries that execute when users view these contacts. These attack vectors demonstrate a fundamental failure in input validation practices, where the application assumes all user input is benign and does not properly escape or filter content before rendering it in web pages.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1282 extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates persistent security risks for organizations relying on the affected mail server. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even establish persistent backdoors within the organization's email infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require local access or credentials to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with exposed webmail interfaces. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability could facilitate privilege escalation attacks, allow for data exfiltration, or serve as a stepping stone for broader network compromise. The impact is further amplified by the fact that these vulnerabilities affect core email functionality, meaning that any user with access to the webmail interface could become a potential victim or attack vector.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies to protect their email infrastructure and user data. The primary recommendation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches or upgrading to a newer version of Argosoft Mail Server Pro that addresses these XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the webmail interface can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the webmail interface to internal users only, reducing the attack surface available to external threat actors. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious activities related to user settings modifications or address book entries that might indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script execution and T1566 for social engineering techniques, as attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to craft convincing phishing campaigns that appear legitimate to users. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts, while conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar input validation flaws in other applications and services.