CVE-2005-1819 in WebMail
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in NikoSoft WebMail before 0.11.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2018
The CVE-2005-1819 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in NikoSoft WebMail versions prior to 0.11.0, exposing web applications to persistent security threats that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of web application security weaknesses that have been systematically categorized by the Common Weakness Enumeration project as CWE-79, which specifically addresses "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')". The vulnerability's classification within CWE-79 highlights its fundamental nature as an input validation failure that allows malicious actors to inject executable code into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability in NikoSoft WebMail occurs through unspecified input vectors that likely involve user-controllable parameters within the web application's request handling mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that get executed in the context of other users' browsers when they access compromised web pages or interact with the vulnerable application. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the target system or network, enabling them to launch attacks from anywhere on the internet. This remote attack vector aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1566, which describes "Phishing" and other remote exploitation methods that leverage web-based attack vectors to compromise user systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it creates opportunities for attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user credentials, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even execute arbitrary commands within the context of the victim's browser session. When combined with other attack techniques, this XSS vulnerability can serve as a launching point for more sophisticated attacks that may ultimately lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in webmail applications is particularly concerning because email systems often contain sensitive personal and business information, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals seeking to gain unauthorized access to confidential data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1819 should prioritize immediate application of the vendor's security patch or upgrade to NikoSoft WebMail version 0.11.0 or later, which would address the underlying input validation flaws that enable the XSS attack. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures that filter and escape all user-controllable data before it is processed or displayed within web pages. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls and implementing proper content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security testing of web applications to identify and address other potential injection flaws that may exist within the application's codebase, following security best practices established by organizations such as the Open Web Application Security Project. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that similar weaknesses do not emerge in other components of the web infrastructure.