CVE-2006-6702 in @mail Webmail
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Global.pm in @Mail before 4.61 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted e-mail messages. NOTE: The provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-6702 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the @Mail email system's Global.pm module version 4.60 and earlier. This security weakness allows remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code through specially crafted email messages, creating a significant vector for web-based attacks against unsuspecting users. The vulnerability exists in the email processing pipeline where user-supplied content from incoming messages is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web interfaces.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the Global.pm module responsible for handling email message processing. When email messages containing malicious script tags or HTML content are processed by the @Mail system, the application fails to properly escape or filter potentially dangerous characters and script elements before displaying them in web-based email interfaces. This failure creates an environment where attacker-controlled content can be executed in the context of authenticated users' browsers, effectively bypassing normal security boundaries. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based email viewing functionality where email content is rendered directly in browser windows without proper sanitization mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker could craft email messages containing malicious javascript that would execute when users view their email in the Mail web interface, potentially stealing authentication cookies or redirecting users to malicious sites. This vulnerability particularly threatens organizations relying on Mail for email services, as it allows attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive email communications and personal data. The risk is amplified by the fact that email remains one of the primary attack vectors in enterprise security, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in corporate environments.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as mapping to CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The attack pattern aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1566, which covers "Phishing" and related social engineering tactics. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and proper content sanitization of email messages before rendering them in web interfaces. The recommended solution involves upgrading to @Mail version 4.61 or later where this vulnerability has been patched, along with implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls and strict content security policies to prevent malicious script execution in email viewing contexts.