CVE-2008-3650 in Groupware Webmail Edition
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in Horde Groupware Webmail before Edition 1.1.1 (final) have unknown impact and attack vectors related to "unescaped output," possibly cross-site scripting (XSS), in the (1) object browser and (2) contact view.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3650 affects Horde Groupware Webmail versions prior to 1.1.1, representing a critical security flaw in the webmail application's output handling mechanisms. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the application's user interface components, specifically impacting the object browser and contact view functionalities. The vulnerability falls under the category of unspecified flaws that could potentially allow attackers to execute malicious code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The core technical flaw manifests through unescaped output conditions that create opportunities for cross-site scripting attacks. When the Horde Groupware Webmail application processes user-supplied data for display in the object browser and contact view interfaces, it fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable code by web browsers. This weakness allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts that execute in the victim's browser when they view affected content, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates persistent attack vectors that could be exploited by threat actors to establish footholds within organizational email environments. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to manipulate user sessions, steal authentication tokens, or gain unauthorized access to sensitive email communications and personal information stored within the Groupware system. The unspecified nature of the exact attack vectors means that defenders must consider multiple potential exploitation scenarios, including but not limited to persistent XSS attacks, session manipulation, and credential harvesting.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a classic example of insufficient output escaping in web interfaces. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that email systems often contain sensitive organizational data and are frequently targeted by adversaries seeking to establish persistent access. Mitigation strategies should include immediate upgrade to Horde Groupware Webmail version 1.1.1 or later, implementation of proper input validation and output sanitization routines, and deployment of web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their email infrastructure and implement regular vulnerability scanning to identify similar weaknesses in other web-based applications.