CVE-2005-2176 in NetMail
Summary
by MITRE
Novell NetMail automatically processes HTML in an attachment without prompting the user to save or open it, which makes it easier for remote attackers to conduct web-based attacks and steal cookies.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2176 resides within Novell NetMail, a messaging application that failed to properly handle HTML content in email attachments. This flaw represents a classic security issue where the application automatically processes HTML elements without user consent or explicit notification, creating an attack surface that adversaries could exploit for malicious purposes. The vulnerability specifically affects how the application handles HTML attachments, which are commonly used in phishing attacks and other web-based exploitation techniques.
This technical flaw stems from the application's lack of proper content validation and user interaction protocols when processing email attachments. When a user receives an email with an HTML attachment, Novell NetMail automatically renders the HTML content without requiring user intervention to confirm whether they want to execute or view the potentially dangerous code. This behavior directly violates secure coding principles and user safety protocols that should require explicit user consent before executing potentially malicious code. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and demonstrates poor input sanitization practices that allow arbitrary HTML code execution within the context of the email client.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote attackers to conduct sophisticated web-based attacks without requiring user interaction beyond simply opening an email message. Attackers can craft malicious HTML attachments that automatically steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or execute other harmful operations without user awareness. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently open compromised emails, leading to potential credential theft, unauthorized access to corporate systems, and broader network compromise. The automatic processing of HTML content effectively bypasses user security awareness training and creates a false sense of security.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-1004 which describes insecure default settings and CWE-79 which covers cross-site scripting attacks. The attack pattern aligns with techniques documented in the ATT&CK framework under T1566 for Phishing and T1567 for Exfiltration. Organizations exposed to this vulnerability face potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and compromised user sessions. The automatic execution of HTML content without user consent creates an ideal environment for credential harvesting attacks and session hijacking operations that could lead to complete system compromise.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include implementing proper content filtering mechanisms that prevent automatic HTML processing of email attachments, configuring user prompts for potentially dangerous content, and deploying email security solutions that scan attachments for malicious content. Organizations should also consider updating to patched versions of Novell NetMail, implementing network-based security controls, and establishing user education programs to recognize potentially malicious email attachments. Additionally, security configurations should enforce strict content validation policies that prevent automatic execution of HTML code within email clients, ensuring that users must explicitly choose to process such content.