CVE-2007-1179 in WebAPP
Summary
by MITRE
WebAPP before 0.9.9.5 does not properly manage e-mail addresses in certain contexts related to (1) the Recommend feature, Email Article (2) senders and (3) recipients, (4) New User Approval, (5) Edit Profiles, (6) the Newsletter Subscription form, (7) the Recommend form, and (8) sending of articles, which has unknown impact, and remote attack vectors related to spam attacks and possibly other attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2018
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2007-1179 affects WebAPP versions prior to 0995, representing a critical flaw in email address handling across multiple application features. This weakness manifests in eight distinct contexts including the Recommend feature, Email Article functionality, sender and recipient management, New User Approval processes, Edit Profiles operations, Newsletter Subscription forms, and article sending mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of email addresses within these components, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by malicious actors. The improper handling of email addresses in these contexts represents a fundamental security flaw that could compromise the integrity of user communications and system operations. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and CWE-79, covering cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that could arise from improper email address handling. The affected application components create multiple entry points for attackers to manipulate email address data, potentially leading to unauthorized access or system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to exploit weak email address validation mechanisms across various user interaction points within the WebAPP platform. When users submit email addresses through the Recommend feature, Email Article functionality, or Newsletter subscription forms, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate these inputs before processing or storing them. This weakness creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious content or manipulate email address formats to bypass intended security controls. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it affects core user management and communication features, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate user profiles, send unauthorized emails, or redirect communications to malicious addresses. The unspecified nature of the impact suggests that the vulnerability could enable various attack vectors including spam distribution, phishing attempts, or even more sophisticated social engineering campaigns that leverage the application's legitimate email functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-1179 extends beyond simple data corruption, potentially enabling attackers to conduct large-scale spam operations or compromise user accounts through manipulated email address handling. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to flood systems with spam messages, manipulate user email preferences, or gain unauthorized access to user accounts through compromised email address validation. The vulnerability's presence across multiple features creates an expanded attack surface, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on the WebAPP platform for user communications and content management. The remote attack vectors associated with this vulnerability mean that attackers do not require physical access or local system privileges to exploit the flaw, making it accessible from any network location. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1192, which covers Spearphishing Attachments, and T1078, covering Valid Accounts, as attackers could potentially leverage compromised email address handling to establish persistent access or conduct targeted campaigns.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including thorough input validation for all email address fields, proper sanitization of user-submitted email data, and comprehensive testing of email handling functions across all affected features. The remediation process should involve updating to WebAPP version 0995 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the email address handling flaws. Additionally, implementing proper email address validation routines, including format checking and domain verification, can help prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. Security teams should conduct thorough penetration testing to identify any remaining email handling weaknesses and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the need for comprehensive security testing across all user interaction points in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive user data and communication features. Regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes should include specific attention to email handling functions to prevent similar issues from arising in other application components.