CVE-2006-2484 in Web Mail
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.html in IceWarp WebMail 5.5.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PHPSESSID parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2017
The CVE-2006-2484 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in IceWarp WebMail version 5.5.1 and earlier implementations. This vulnerability resides within the index.html file of the webmail application and specifically targets the PHPSESSID parameter handling mechanism. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this email platform. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the web application's session management component.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing crafted script code within the PHPSESSID parameter value. When a victim accesses this specially crafted link while authenticated to the IceWarp WebMail system, the malicious script executes in the victim's browser context. This creates a persistent threat where the attacker can steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's handling of session identifiers passed through URL parameters rather than secure cookie-based storage mechanisms, which is a fundamental flaw in web application security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can lead to complete account compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive email communications. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to user mailboxes, potentially exfiltrating confidential information, modifying email content, or creating backdoor access points. The vulnerability affects the core authentication and session management functionality of IceWarp WebMail, making it particularly dangerous for organizations where email serves as a primary communication channel for business operations and sensitive data exchange. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and can result in cascading security failures throughout the organization's email infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including input validation for all URL parameters, output encoding of session identifiers, and deployment of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to IceWarp WebMail version 5.5.2 or later, which includes proper parameter sanitization and secure session management practices. Additionally, implementing content security policies and disabling URL-based session identifiers can provide layered protection against similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential XSS vulnerabilities within their webmail infrastructure and ensure that all applications follow secure coding practices aligned with OWASP Top Ten security recommendations and CWE-79 classification for cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 - Phishing and T1071.1 - Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, highlighting its exploitation through web-based attack vectors.