CVE-2006-3552 in Ipswitch Collaboration Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Premium Anti-Spam in Ipswitch IMail Secure Server 2006 and Collaboration Suite 2006 Premium, when using a certain .dat file in the StarEngine /data directory from 20060630 or earlier, does not properly receive and implement bullet signature updates, which allows context-dependent attackers to use the server for spam transmission.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-3552 represents a critical flaw in the Ipswitch IMail Secure Server 2006 and Collaboration Suite 2006 Premium software that affects the anti-spam protection mechanisms. This issue specifically targets the StarEngine component responsible for processing signature updates within the spam filtering system. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of .dat files located in the /data directory, particularly those dated 20060630 or earlier, which contain outdated or malformed signature data that the system fails to properly validate or reject.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through a failure in the signature update mechanism where the system does not adequately validate the integrity and authenticity of incoming signature files. When these outdated .dat files are processed, they contain malformed or incomplete signature definitions that bypass normal validation checks. This allows attackers to manipulate the spam filtering system by injecting malicious signatures that either disable existing protections or introduce new vulnerabilities that can be exploited for spam relay purposes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Ipswitch IMail for email security. Attackers can leverage this flaw to use the compromised server as an open relay for spam transmission, effectively turning the legitimate email server into a spam bot. The context-dependent nature of this vulnerability means that exploitation requires specific conditions related to the presence of the vulnerable .dat files, but once exploited, the impact is substantial as it enables unauthorized spam relay capabilities. The vulnerability affects the core security functionality of the email server, undermining the trust model that organizations rely on for email communication security.
The attack surface for this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers can use the compromised server to send spam emails that appear legitimate. The vulnerability also maps to CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and CWE-345 (Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity) as it demonstrates inadequate validation of signature files and failure to verify the authenticity of update data. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the software, removing or renaming the vulnerable .dat files, and implementing additional email security measures such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to prevent abuse of the compromised server.
This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper signature validation and update management in email security systems, particularly in legacy software environments. The issue demonstrates how outdated signature files can create persistent security weaknesses that may not be immediately apparent but can be exploited for extended periods. Security practitioners should conduct thorough inventory assessments to identify all affected systems and ensure that signature update mechanisms are properly configured with integrity checks and automated validation processes to prevent similar issues in the future.