CVE-2006-5712 in Mirapoint WebMail
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Mirapoint WebMail allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script via the expression Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) function, as demonstrated using the width style for an IMG element.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2026
The CVE-2006-5712 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Mirapoint WebMail application's handling of Cascading Style Sheets functionality. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes CSS expressions within HTML content, creating an attack vector that allows remote threat actors to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected user sessions. The exploitation technique leverages the width style attribute of IMG elements to inject malicious CSS expressions that bypass traditional input validation mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of CSS input parameters within the Mirapoint WebMail interface. When users submit content containing CSS expressions, particularly those utilizing the width property of IMG elements, the application fails to properly validate or escape these inputs before rendering them in web pages. This oversight creates a condition where attacker-controlled CSS code can be executed in the browser context of legitimate users who view the affected content, enabling unauthorized access to session cookies, sensitive data, or other user resources. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically targeting the CSS expression execution mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, data theft, and potential privilege escalation within the email environment. An attacker could craft malicious email messages containing specially formatted CSS expressions that, when viewed by a victim, would execute scripts to steal authentication tokens or redirect users to phishing sites. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the system or direct network connections to exploit this vulnerability. The attack surface includes any user who accesses email content containing malicious CSS expressions, making it particularly dangerous in corporate environments where email is a primary communication channel.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-5712 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Mirapoint WebMail application. Organizations should deploy proper CSS sanitization routines that filter or escape CSS expressions before rendering them in web contexts, particularly targeting the width attribute and other potentially dangerous CSS properties. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide additional protection by restricting the execution of inline scripts and CSS expressions. Security patches should address the root cause by ensuring that CSS expressions are properly validated and sanitized, preventing the execution of attacker-controlled code. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious CSS expression patterns. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious content delivery. The remediation process should include thorough code review of all CSS handling functions and implementation of automated testing to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future releases.