CVE-2005-4242 in Turba H3
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Horde Turba H3 2.0.4 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the address book and (2) contact data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4242 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting the Horde Turba H3 2.0.4 and earlier versions of the address book application. This flaw exists within the web-based email and contact management system that was widely used in enterprise environments during the mid-2000s. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's handling of user-supplied data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious scripts or HTML content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the compromised address book entries or contact information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at multiple points within the application's data processing pipeline. Specifically, the flaw manifests when the system accepts address book names, contact details, and other user-provided information without proper sanitization. When these unvalidated inputs are subsequently rendered in web pages, the embedded malicious scripts execute within the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the compromised user. The vulnerability affects both the address book management interface and contact data display functions, creating multiple attack vectors for malicious actors.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-4242 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive organizational data. In enterprise environments where Turba was deployed, this vulnerability could enable attackers to harvest user credentials, access confidential contact information, or perform unauthorized modifications to address book entries. The long-term consequences include potential data exfiltration and the establishment of persistent attack vectors within the organization's communication infrastructure. Organizations using this version of Turba were particularly vulnerable because the application was often integrated with other Horde components, amplifying the potential damage from a single compromised entry point.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected systems to version 2.0.5 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including HTML escaping and proper output encoding for all user-supplied data. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, though these measures are secondary to proper code-level fixes. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation that can be addressed through proper secure coding practices. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of their web infrastructure.