CVE-2007-5235 in Uebimiau
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Uebimiau 2.7.2 through 2.7.10 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the f_email parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-5235 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw affecting the Uebimiau webmail application version 2.7.2 through 2.7.10. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category known as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security weaknesses. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the index.php file where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' sessions.
The technical flaw occurs within the f_email parameter handling mechanism of the Uebimiau application. When an attacker submits malicious input through this parameter, the application fails to implement adequate input validation or output encoding measures. This allows the attacker to inject HTML tags or JavaScript code that gets executed in the victim's browser when they view the affected page. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious script is reflected off the web server and delivered to the victim's browser without being stored on the server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack vector requires remote exploitation with no authentication needed, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various means including email links, web forms, or social engineering techniques. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected Uebimiau versions, potentially compromising the confidentiality and integrity of email communications and user sessions.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through the f_email parameter by removing or encoding special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, employ proper HTML encoding when rendering user data, and consider implementing input length restrictions. Additionally, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments, highlighting the importance of email security measures and user education. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for regular security updates and patch management, as this issue was likely addressed in subsequent versions of the Uebimiau application through proper input validation implementations that align with secure coding practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.