CVE-2007-1679 in Groupware
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Horde Groupware Webmail 1.0 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors in (1) imp/search.php and (2) ingo/rule.php. NOTE: this issue has been disputed by the vendor, noting that the search.php issue was resolved in CVE-2006-4255, and attackers can only use rule.php to inject XSS into their own pages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-1679 represents a cross-site scripting weakness in Horde Groupware Webmail version 1.0 that affects authenticated users with remote access capabilities. This issue falls under the broader category of web application security flaws that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The affected components include imp/search.php and ingo/rule.php files within the webmail application's interface, which serve different functional purposes within the email management system. The disputed nature of this vulnerability indicates that the vendor has challenged the severity or existence of certain aspects of the reported flaw, specifically regarding the search.php component.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the affected PHP scripts. When authenticated users interact with these components, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. The imp/search.php file likely processes search queries without adequate sanitization, while the ingo/rule.php component appears to allow rule creation with insufficient protection against malicious script injection. This flaw enables attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that executes in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions within the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to manipulate the webmail interface and potentially access sensitive user information. The fact that the vulnerability requires authentication means that attackers must first compromise user credentials or exploit another vulnerability to gain access to the system. However, once authenticated, the attacker can leverage this XSS flaw to inject malicious content that persists in the application's rule management interface, affecting not only their own account but potentially other users who view or interact with the compromised rules. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a classic example of how improper input handling can create persistent security weaknesses.
The vendor's disputed stance regarding the search.php component suggests that this particular issue may have been previously addressed in CVE-2006-4255, indicating that the security community had already identified and remediated similar vulnerabilities in earlier versions of the software. The remaining concern with the rule.php component focuses on the potential for attackers to inject malicious content into their own rule pages, which limits the scope of impact but still represents a valid security concern. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding strategies to address such vulnerabilities, including proper HTML escaping, content security policies, and regular security assessments. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.007 for script injection techniques, emphasizing the need for robust application-level defenses against malicious code execution. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and conducting thorough security reviews of web application components to prevent unauthorized code injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.