CVE-2008-2247 in Exchange
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Outlook Web Access (OWA) for Exchange Server 2003 SP2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified e-mail fields, a different vulnerability than CVE-2008-2248.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2247 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Microsoft Outlook Web Access component of Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2. This security weakness specifically affects the web-based email interface that millions of enterprise users rely upon for their daily communication needs. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the email processing pipeline, particularly in how the system handles email fields during rendering in the web browser environment. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious email messages that contain specially formatted script code within email headers or body content, which then gets executed when the victim views the email through the vulnerable OWA interface.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs at the presentation layer where user-supplied data flows directly into the web page output without proper sanitization or encoding. When a user accesses an email containing malicious script code through OWA, the browser executes this code within the context of the authenticated user session, potentially allowing attackers to perform actions on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability specifically targets the email field processing mechanisms that fail to properly escape special characters or validate the content of email headers and body elements before rendering them in the browser. This flaw operates under CWE-79 which classifies it as a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability where untrusted data is incorporated into web page output without proper validation or encoding.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to enterprise security infrastructure as it enables attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the Exchange environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that OWA serves as the primary web interface for email access in many organizations, making it a prime target for credential theft, session hijacking, and data exfiltration attempts. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to read sensitive email communications, modify user permissions, or even gain access to additional network resources through the compromised user account. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged in conjunction with other attack vectors to create more sophisticated compromise scenarios.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2247 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Microsoft as the primary defense mechanism, given that this vulnerability was addressed through service pack updates and security patches released by the vendor. Organizations should also implement additional protective measures including enhanced email filtering solutions, web application firewalls, and strict input validation policies that can detect and block suspicious script content before it reaches the vulnerable application layer. Network segmentation and user access controls can help limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual email processing patterns or script injection attempts within their Exchange environments. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059 technique for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting web application interfaces where user input is improperly handled. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly identify and contain exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability class, as it represents a common entry point for broader network compromise operations.