CVE-2005-2276 in GroupWise
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Novell Groupwise WebAccess 6.5 before July 11, 2005 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an e-mail message with an encoded javascript URI (e.g. "jAvascript" in an IMG tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2024
The CVE-2005-2276 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Novell Groupwise WebAccess 6.5 systems prior to the July 11, 2005 security patch release. This vulnerability exists within the web-based email access interface that allows users to interact with their Groupwise email accounts through a web browser. The flaw specifically manifests in how the system processes and renders email content, particularly when handling HTML-encoded javascript URIs within email messages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious email messages containing encoded javascript code that bypasses the system's input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and affects the web interface's rendering engine, which fails to properly sanitize user-supplied content before displaying it to other users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, where improper validation or sanitization of user input allows malicious scripts to be executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker sends an email message containing an encoded javascript URI within an image tag or other HTML elements. The specific example demonstrates the use of "jAvascript" where the X41 represents the hexadecimal value for the letter 'A' in the ASCII character set, effectively creating a javascript URI when decoded by the browser. When another user accesses their email through the vulnerable Groupwise WebAccess interface and views the malicious email, the browser executes the embedded script in the context of the user's session. This execution can occur without any user interaction beyond simply reading the email message, making the attack particularly dangerous and difficult to detect. The vulnerability stems from the system's inadequate HTML sanitization process, which fails to properly decode and validate encoded content before rendering it in the web interface, creating an environment where malicious payloads can be silently executed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities through the compromised user sessions. An attacker could steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify email content, or even execute commands on behalf of the compromised user. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Groupwise WebAccess serves as a primary email interface, as successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of user accounts and potentially provide access to sensitive organizational data. The attack vector is relatively simple and does not require sophisticated techniques, making it accessible to attackers of varying skill levels. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers Social Engineering through spearphishing and other methods that leverage web-based applications to deliver malicious payloads. The exploitation can occur silently in the background while users read their email, making detection and incident response significantly more challenging for security administrators.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-2276 should focus on immediate patch deployment and implementation of comprehensive input validation measures. Organizations must apply the July 11, 2005 security update released by Novell to address the specific vulnerability in Groupwise WebAccess 6.5 systems. Beyond patching, administrators should implement additional security controls including strict HTML sanitization policies, content security policies, and regular security assessments of web-based email systems. The solution involves configuring the web interface to properly decode and validate all user-supplied content before rendering, ensuring that encoded javascript URIs are detected and neutralized. Network security measures such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection, while user education about suspicious email content should be implemented as part of a comprehensive security strategy. Organizations should also consider implementing email filtering solutions that can detect and quarantine potentially malicious encoded content before it reaches the web interface, reducing the attack surface for this specific vulnerability.