CVE-2007-3796 in MailMarshal SMTP
Summary
by MITRE
The password reset feature in the Spam Quarantine HTTP interface for MailMarshal SMTP 6.2.0.x before 6.2.1 allows remote attackers to modify arbitrary account information via a UserId variable with a large amount of trailing whitespace followed by a malicious value, which triggers SQL buffer truncation due to length inconsistencies between variables.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-3796 resides within the Spam Quarantine HTTP interface of MailMarshal SMTP version 6.2.0.x prior to 6.2.1, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate arbitrary account information through a specifically crafted UserId parameter. This issue demonstrates a classic buffer overflow vulnerability that exploits inconsistencies in data handling between different variable lengths, creating a pathway for unauthorized modification of user account details. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates through a web-based interface, making it accessible to attackers without requiring local system access or authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a SQL buffer truncation mechanism that occurs when the UserId variable contains excessive trailing whitespace followed by malicious input. This design flaw creates a scenario where the system processes a variable length that exceeds the allocated buffer space, causing the system to truncate the input at an unexpected point. The inconsistency between the expected and actual variable lengths creates a condition where the trailing whitespace effectively masks the malicious payload until the truncation occurs, allowing attackers to bypass normal input validation mechanisms. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking permits data to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple account modification, as it could potentially enable attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive email data, or even gain unauthorized administrative control over the MailMarshal SMTP system. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from any location with internet access, without requiring physical presence or prior system compromise. This characteristic significantly increases the attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on email security solutions for their communication infrastructure. The vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in input sanitization and validation processes that should have been addressed through proper parameter length checking and buffer management.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including patching to version 6.2.1 or later, implementing input validation controls to prevent excessive whitespace in UserId parameters, and applying network-level restrictions to limit access to the Spam Quarantine interface. The solution should incorporate proper SQL injection prevention techniques and ensure that all user-supplied input undergoes rigorous validation before processing. Additionally, implementing proper logging and monitoring of account modification activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for credential access through database manipulation, and represents a clear violation of security best practices regarding input validation and buffer management as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles.