CVE-2005-1284 in Mail Server
Summary
by MITRE
The addnew script in Argosoft Mail Server Pro 1.8.7.6 allows remote attackers to create arbitrary accounts, even if "Allow Creation of Accounts From the Web Interface" is disabled, via a direct HTTP POST request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1284 represents a critical access control flaw in the Argosoft Mail Server Pro 1.8.7.6 email server software. This issue stems from improper authentication and authorization mechanisms within the web-based administration interface, specifically targeting the addnew script that handles account creation processes. The vulnerability exists despite the server's configuration settings that should have prevented unauthorized account creation through the web interface, creating a significant bypass condition that undermines the security posture of the mail server.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a direct HTTP POST request method that circumvents the normal web interface validation checks. Attackers can craft malicious requests that target the addnew script without requiring legitimate authentication credentials or proper authorization. This represents a classic example of insecure direct object reference vulnerability, where the application fails to properly validate user access rights before processing requests for sensitive operations. The flaw allows attackers to create accounts with arbitrary usernames and passwords, effectively bypassing the server's intended security controls that were designed to restrict account creation to authorized administrators only.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it provides attackers with persistent access to the mail server infrastructure. Once an attacker successfully creates an account through this vulnerability, they can leverage the created credentials for various malicious activities including unauthorized email access, spam relay, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability essentially grants remote attackers the ability to establish footholds within the email infrastructure without proper authorization, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on email servers for business operations. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete compromise of the mail server environment.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address the security gap. The primary recommendation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches or upgrading to newer versions of the Argosoft Mail Server Pro that contain proper access control implementations. Network-level mitigations should include firewall rules that restrict access to the web administration interface to trusted IP addresses only, while also implementing proper input validation and authentication checks at the application layer. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues, and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar access control bypass vulnerabilities that could exist in other components of the email infrastructure, ensuring comprehensive protection against unauthorized account creation and privilege escalation attempts.