CVE-2006-0662 in Lotus Notes
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Lotus Domino iNotes Client 6.5.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via email with attached html files, which are directly rendered in the browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0662 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Lotus Domino iNotes Client version 6.5.4, specifically affecting the email attachment handling mechanism. This vulnerability resides in the web client's processing of HTML content embedded within email attachments, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication or privileged access. The flaw manifests when the iNotes client directly renders HTML content from email attachments within the browser context, bypassing standard security controls that would normally prevent execution of malicious scripts. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and affects the web-based email interface, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through routine email communication channels.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTML email attachments that contain malicious script code, which are then rendered directly in the browser environment when users view the email content. The flaw represents a classic XSS attack vector where the application fails to properly sanitize or escape HTML content before rendering it in the user's browser context. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code, HTML tags, or other web scripts that execute in the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability specifically impacts the iNotes client's handling of HTML attachments, which are processed without adequate input validation or output encoding mechanisms, creating a pathway for arbitrary code execution within the user's browser environment. This issue is classified as a CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which directly maps to the core problem of insufficient sanitization of user-supplied content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious websites, and data exfiltration. When users open emails containing malicious attachments, the embedded scripts can access the user's session cookies, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate the user and gain unauthorized access to corporate email systems. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of the iNotes client, as any user who receives an email with a malicious attachment becomes a potential victim. This creates a significant risk for organizations that rely heavily on email communication, as the attack can be executed through simple email delivery without requiring any special access privileges or advanced technical knowledge from the attacker. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where users may have elevated privileges within the email system, potentially leading to broader security compromise.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the Lotus Domino iNotes client, implementing proper input validation for email attachments, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious content. The remediation strategy should include comprehensive security updates from IBM, along with administrative controls such as disabling HTML email rendering for attachments, implementing strict content filtering policies, and conducting user awareness training to recognize potentially malicious email content. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing browser security controls such as content security policies and disabling automatic rendering of potentially dangerous content types. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1566: Phishing highlights the importance of email security controls and user education as primary defense mechanisms. Regular security assessments and monitoring of email traffic for suspicious patterns should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts, while maintaining detailed audit logs of email processing activities to facilitate incident response and forensic analysis.