CVE-2007-5649 in SocketMail
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in lostpwd.php in Creative Digital Resources SocketMail 2.2.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the lost_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2025
The CVE-2007-5649 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the SocketMail 2.2.1 web application developed by Creative Digital Resources. This vulnerability specifically targets the lostpwd.php script which handles password recovery functionality, making it a critical entry point for malicious actors seeking to exploit user sessions and gather sensitive information. The flaw exists in the improper handling of user input within the lost_id parameter, which is used during the password reset process when users enter their email addresses or identifiers to retrieve forgotten credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize and validate input data before processing it within the web response. When an attacker submits malicious content through the lost_id parameter, the application directly incorporates this unvalidated input into the HTML response without appropriate encoding or filtering mechanisms. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code or HTML content that executes in the context of other users' browsers who subsequently access the vulnerable page. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious payload is reflected back to users through the application's response rather than being stored on the server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. An attacker could craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when clicked by authenticated users, would execute commands in their browser context. This could lead to unauthorized access to user mailboxes, modification of email content, or redirection to phishing sites designed to harvest additional credentials. The vulnerability particularly affects users who are logged into the SocketMail application, as the malicious scripts would execute within their authenticated session context.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as aligning with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application attack vector under the technique of "Command and Scripting Interpreter" where adversaries leverage web application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code. Mitigation strategies must include implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase, particularly in the lostpwd.php script. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, conduct regular security code reviews to identify similar input handling issues, and implement proper content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. Additionally, the application should be updated to a patched version from the vendor or replaced with a more secure mail management solution to eliminate this exposure entirely.