CVE-2006-6704 in @mail Webadmin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Webadmin in @Mail before 4.6 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors involving "unescaped data in the database."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6704 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Webadmin component of Mail software versions prior to 4.6. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before it is stored in and subsequently retrieved from the database. The vulnerability specifically manifests when unescaped data is processed through the web administration interface, creating an environment where malicious actors can execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' browsers. The affected Mail versions lack proper sanitization of data that flows through database storage mechanisms, allowing attackers to inject malicious content that persists and executes when other users access the administration panel. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security flaw that enables attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the affected system. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that contain script code, which then gets stored in the database and executed when the administrative interface is accessed. The vulnerability's persistence through database storage makes it particularly dangerous as the malicious content remains active until explicitly removed or the application is updated. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, and represents a classic server-side injection vector that can be leveraged for session hijacking and data exfiltration. The specific nature of the flaw in Mail's Webadmin component suggests that the application fails to implement proper context-aware output encoding, particularly when data flows from database retrieval back to HTML rendering contexts. This creates an environment where attackers can inject JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser, potentially leading to complete compromise of user sessions and unauthorized access to administrative functions. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges as it targets the web interface rather than requiring direct system access, making it particularly attractive to attackers seeking persistent access to email administration systems. Organizations using Mail versions prior to 4.6 should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and database field sanitization measures to prevent malicious data from being stored and executed. The recommended approach involves updating to @Mail version 4.6 or later, which includes proper data sanitization mechanisms and input validation controls that prevent unescaped data from persisting in the database. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper data handling in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing that includes database input/output validation scenarios. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability type requires ongoing vigilance in web application development practices to prevent similar issues from emerging in other systems. The persistence of this flaw through database storage mechanisms emphasizes the need for thorough sanitization at all data entry points and proper output encoding for all contexts where user data is rendered in web interfaces.