CVE-2005-1319 in IMP
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Horde IMP Webmail client before 3.2.8 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the parent s frame page title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2019
The CVE-2005-1319 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Horde IMP Webmail client, a widely used web-based email application that was prevalent in the mid-2000s. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 3.2.8 and stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the application's handling of frame page titles. The flaw exists in the way the application processes user-supplied data when rendering the parent s frame page title, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper sanitization of user-controllable input parameters that are subsequently rendered within the web page context. When a user accesses the affected Horde IMP Webmail client, the application retrieves data from various sources including user-provided parameters that are meant to populate the title attribute of a parent frame page. The vulnerability occurs because the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters in these parameters before incorporating them into the HTML output. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' browsers when they access the compromised page.
From an operational impact perspective, this XSS vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations relying on the affected Horde IMP Webmail client. An attacker can leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts in the browsers of other users who access the compromised webmail interface, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates in a context where users are likely to trust the webmail interface, making social engineering attacks more effective. The attack requires minimal privileges as it can be executed remotely without authentication, and the impact extends to all users of the compromised webmail system.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications. This classification specifically addresses the improper handling of untrusted data within web applications, where the application fails to validate or sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamic content. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers the use of malicious content in web applications to compromise user systems. The attack vector is particularly relevant in the context of web-based email systems where users frequently interact with potentially untrusted content and where the attack surface includes not only the primary application interface but also the frame structures that contain user data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of the Horde IMP Webmail client to version 3.2.8 or later, which contains the necessary input validation and output sanitization fixes. Organizations should also implement proper input validation at multiple layers including client-side and server-side filtering of user-supplied data. Additional protective measures include implementing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, regular security assessments of web applications, and user education regarding suspicious webmail content. The remediation process should also include reviewing and updating web application security configurations to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other components of the email infrastructure.