CVE-2006-0711 in neomail
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) addfolder and (2) deletefolder functions in neomail-prefs.pl in NeoMail 1.28 do not validate the Session ID, which allows remote attackers to add and delete arbitrary files, when configured with homedirfolders and homedirspools disabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0711 affects NeoMail version 1.28 and represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in the web-based email management system. This issue manifests in two specific functions within the neomail-prefs.pl script namely the addfolder and deletefolder operations. The core problem stems from insufficient session validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify user authentication status before executing privileged file system operations. When the NeoMail configuration has homedirfolders and homedirspools disabled, the system becomes particularly vulnerable to exploitation as these security controls are effectively bypassed.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the absence of proper session ID validation within the affected functions. Attackers can craft malicious requests that leverage the missing authentication checks to perform unauthorized file operations on the target system. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the file system manipulation capabilities of NeoMail, allowing remote adversaries to add or delete arbitrary files without proper authorization. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in authentication mechanisms and aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication scenarios in software applications. The lack of session validation creates a direct path for privilege escalation and unauthorized system access.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on NeoMail for email services. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to the file system and potentially execute arbitrary code or manipulate email data stored on the server. The impact extends beyond simple file manipulation as it could enable attackers to plant malicious files, delete critical system components, or compromise the integrity of the email infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates without requiring any valid session credentials, making it accessible to anyone with network access to the affected system. This characteristic places it within the ATT&CK framework under the T1190 technique for Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it represents an unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability in a web application.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate implementation of proper session validation mechanisms within the affected functions. Administrators should ensure that all file system operations in neomail-prefs.pl require valid session authentication before proceeding with any privileged actions. The most effective approach involves patching the application to enforce session ID verification for all folder management operations. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-level protections such as firewalls to restrict access to the affected web interface and ensure that the vulnerable configuration settings are not deployed in production environments. The recommended solution aligns with security best practices for session management and addresses the fundamental authentication weakness that enables this attack vector.