CVE-2007-0651 in Web Mail
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in MailEnable Professional before 2.37 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary Javascript script via (1) e-mail messages and (2) the ID parameter to (a) right.asp, (b) Forms/MAI/list.asp, and (c) Forms/VCF/list.asp in mewebmail/base/default/lang/EN/.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-0651 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting MailEnable Professional versions prior to 2.37. This security weakness resides in the web-based email interface component of the MailEnable system, specifically within the mewebmail application that provides users with web access to their email accounts. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's handling of user-supplied data, creating an environment where malicious actors can inject harmful javascript code into the web application's response.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through multiple attack vectors that exploit the application's failure to properly sanitize user input. Attackers can leverage this flaw by crafting specially formatted email messages that contain malicious javascript code, which then gets executed when recipients view these messages through the vulnerable web interface. Additionally, the vulnerability extends to specific parameter manipulation within the application's URL structure, particularly targeting the ID parameter in three distinct files: right.asp, Forms/MAI/list.asp, and Forms/VCF/list.asp. These files are part of the default language directory structure within the MailEnable webmail application's base folder, indicating that the vulnerability affects core administrative and user interface components of the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary javascript code within the context of a victim's browser session. This could enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or extract sensitive information from the email interface. The vulnerability affects both the email content processing and the application's navigation components, meaning that any user accessing the vulnerable MailEnable webmail interface could be compromised. Given that email systems typically contain sensitive organizational data, the potential for data exfiltration and privilege escalation increases substantially when attackers can execute code within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a classic example of insecure input handling in web interfaces. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) and T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript), as attackers could use the XSS to deliver malicious javascript payloads and establish persistent access through compromised user sessions. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects both the email content processing pipeline and the application's administrative interface components, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or access sensitive system information. Organizations using MailEnable Professional versions prior to 2.37 should immediately implement patches or workarounds to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability can be leveraged for comprehensive session hijacking and data theft operations. The remediation strategy should include proper input validation, output encoding, and regular security updates to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced through insufficient sanitization of user-supplied content in web applications.