CVE-2007-2153 in @mail Webmail
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in atmail.php in @Mail 5.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the username parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2153 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the @Mail 5.0 web application's atmail.php component. This security weakness resides in the improper handling of user input within the username parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication and user management functionality of the email application, where user-supplied data flows directly into the web response without adequate sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize input received through the username parameter. When a user submits a username containing malicious script code, the application processes this input without appropriate security measures to prevent execution in the browser context. This weakness allows attackers to craft specially formatted usernames that, when processed by the atmail.php script, get rendered in the web interface and subsequently executed by other users who view the affected content. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various vectors including direct web interface access, email links, or crafted web forms that submit to the vulnerable endpoint.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, manipulate web content, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. An attacker could craft malicious usernames that, when viewed by authenticated users, would execute scripts to capture cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or modify the application interface. This vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and represents a significant risk to user confidentiality and application integrity. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that @Mail is an email application where users frequently interact with potentially malicious content and where session management is critical.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-2153 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Organizations should employ strict validation of all user-supplied input, particularly parameters that are rendered in web responses, and implement context-appropriate encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding for web content. The solution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts in user browsers. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies, using secure coding practices, and regularly updating the application to patched versions would address the underlying vulnerability. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious input patterns in user parameters and regular security assessments of web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components.