CVE-2007-3171 in Uebimiau
Summary
by MITRE
Uebimiau Webmail allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a request to demo/pop3/error.php with an invalid value of the (1) smarty or (2) selected_theme parameter, which reveals the path in various error messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3171 affects the Uebimiau Webmail application, a popular open-source web-based email client that provides webmail access to users through various protocols including POP3 and IMAP. This security flaw represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that can significantly impact the security posture of affected systems. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes requests to the demo/pop3/error.php endpoint with malformed input parameters, particularly the smarty and selected_theme parameters. The flaw demonstrates a critical weakness in the application's error handling mechanisms, where insufficient input validation leads to the exposure of sensitive system information through error messages.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize and validate user input before processing it within the webmail interface. When attackers submit requests containing invalid values for the smarty or selected_theme parameters, the application generates error messages that inadvertently reveal the server's file system paths and potentially other sensitive information. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-200 - Information Exposure, which is classified as a fundamental weakness in software design that allows unauthorized disclosure of information. The vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and information hiding, as it exposes internal system details that should remain confidential to prevent attackers from gaining insights into the underlying infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be leveraged for subsequent attacks. The revealed file paths can be used to understand the application's directory structure, potentially enabling attackers to craft more sophisticated attacks targeting specific files or directories. This information disclosure can facilitate path traversal attacks, directory listing exploits, or other techniques that rely on knowledge of the system's file structure. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the information gathering phase, specifically the T1213 - Data from Information Repositories tactic, where adversaries collect information about the target environment.
The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be executed through simple HTTP requests, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by attackers with basic web security knowledge. The exposure of the path information creates a foundation for more advanced attacks, as attackers can use this knowledge to identify potential attack vectors, understand the application's architecture, and plan more targeted exploitation strategies. Organizations running affected versions of Uebimiau Webmail face significant risk of compromise, as this vulnerability can serve as an entry point for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability represents a critical security gap that violates industry security standards and best practices, particularly those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, where information exposure vulnerabilities consistently rank among the most prevalent security issues in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and error handling mechanisms within the Uebimiau Webmail application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user input parameters before processing them and implementing generic error messages that do not reveal system-specific information. Organizations should also consider implementing proper access controls and limiting the exposure of sensitive endpoints. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. Additionally, upgrading to patched versions of Uebimiau Webmail or implementing proper error handling frameworks can effectively eliminate this vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that error messages no longer expose system paths while maintaining the application's functionality. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures to address any security breaches that may occur as a result of this vulnerability.