CVE-2005-2160 in IMail
Summary
by MITRE
IMail stores usernames and passwords in cleartext in a cookie, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2160 represents a critical security flaw in the IMail email server software that has significant implications for system confidentiality and authentication integrity. This issue stems from the application's improper handling of authentication credentials within its web-based administrative interface, specifically when managing user sessions through cookie mechanisms. The vulnerability exists in the way IMail processes and stores authentication information, creating an exploitable condition that directly compromises user account security.
The technical flaw manifests when IMail generates cookies for authenticated sessions, storing username and password information in plaintext format rather than implementing proper cryptographic protection mechanisms. This design decision violates fundamental security principles and creates an environment where remote attackers can intercept and extract sensitive authentication data from HTTP cookies. The cleartext storage of credentials within cookies represents a direct violation of security best practices and exposes the system to various attack vectors including man-in-the-middle attacks, session hijacking, and credential theft through network sniffing or cookie interception techniques. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and affects the authentication and session management components of the IMail system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass broader security implications for organizations relying on IMail for email services. Remote attackers who successfully exploit this weakness can gain unauthorized access to user accounts, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent access to organizational email infrastructure. The vulnerability undermines the integrity of the authentication system and creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges, conduct phishing attacks, or use stolen credentials for lateral movement within network environments. This weakness particularly affects organizations where IMail is deployed in enterprise environments, as the stolen credentials can be used to access sensitive corporate communications and potentially compromise other systems through credential reuse attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through software updates and configuration changes that address the root cause of the cleartext storage issue. Organizations should implement proper cookie security measures including secure flag settings, HttpOnly flags, and encryption of sensitive data within cookies. The implementation of HTTPS protocols and secure session management practices can significantly reduce the attack surface for this vulnerability. Additionally, regular security auditing and monitoring of web application components should be conducted to identify similar issues in other applications. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and represents a classic example of insecure credential handling that falls under ATT&CK technique T1566 (Phishing) and T1567 (Use of Passwords) in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls that address both application-level and network-level protections.