CVE-2007-5700 in Lotus Domino
Summary
by MITRE
The Evaluate LotusScript method in IBM Lotus Domino before 7.0.3 uses an incorrect security context for @ formula commands in some circumstances, which might allow remote authenticated users to gain privileges and obtain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5700 resides within IBM Lotus Domino software versions prior to 7.0.3, specifically affecting the Evaluate LotusScript method implementation. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the application's privilege separation mechanisms, creating potential pathways for unauthorized information disclosure and privilege escalation. The issue manifests when the system processes @ formula commands through the Evaluate LotusScript functionality, where the security context is improperly managed during execution.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper security context handling within the LotusScript evaluation engine. When authenticated users submit requests containing formula commands to the Domino server, the system fails to maintain proper privilege boundaries during the evaluation process. This mismanagement allows the system to execute commands with elevated privileges or access information that should be restricted to authorized users only. The flaw specifically impacts the security context used for formula execution, which is a fundamental component of Domino's scripting and formula processing capabilities.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Lotus Domino for email and collaboration services. An authenticated attacker with access to the Domino server can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary commands with higher privileges than initially granted, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential data exfiltration, privilege escalation to administrative levels, and unauthorized access to confidential information stored within the Domino environment. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where Domino servers handle sensitive corporate data or serve as email gateways.
The security implications of CVE-2007-5700 align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting legitimate credentials to gain system privileges. Organizations utilizing affected versions of IBM Lotus Domino should immediately implement the vendor-provided security patches and updates to address this vulnerability. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit exposure of Domino servers to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect suspicious authentication patterns and unusual command execution activities.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of IBM Lotus Domino 7.0.3 or later versions, which contain the necessary security fixes for this vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive access control measures, including role-based access controls and regular privilege reviews. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on unusual LotusScript execution patterns and privilege escalation activities. Regular security assessments of Domino environments should be conducted to identify similar configuration weaknesses and ensure that all security patches are properly applied across the organization's infrastructure.