CVE-2008-4045 in @Mail
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in @Mail 5.42 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) file and (2) HelpFile parameters to parse.php, the (3) Folder and (4) start parameters to showmail.php, and the (5) abookview parameter to abook.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2017
The CVE-2008-4045 vulnerability represents a significant security flaw in the @Mail 5.42 web-based email application that exposes multiple cross-site scripting attack vectors. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive email data, session hijacking, or further exploitation of the compromised system. The vulnerability affects several key application endpoints including parse.php, showmail.php, and abook.php, making it a comprehensive XSS weakness that spans across different modules of the email application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the @Mail application's PHP scripts. Specifically, the file and HelpFile parameters in parse.php fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code. Similarly, the Folder and start parameters in showmail.php, along with the abookview parameter in abook.php, demonstrate the same pattern of insufficient data validation. These parameters directly influence the application's dynamic content generation without proper encoding or filtering of potentially malicious input, enabling attackers to craft payloads that execute in the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it provides attackers with multiple entry points to compromise user sessions and access email communications. An attacker could craft malicious URLs containing XSS payloads that, when clicked by a victim, would execute in the victim's browser and potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or inject malicious content into email messages. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects core application functionality including email parsing, message display, and address book operations, meaning that any user interacting with these features could become a victim of the attack. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it can be leveraged to perform more sophisticated attacks within the context of the compromised application. Attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to hijack user sessions, modify email content, or even escalate privileges within the application if the system lacks proper access controls. The fact that multiple parameters across different PHP scripts are affected indicates a systemic issue in the application's input handling architecture. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which involves phishing attacks that leverage web-based vulnerabilities to gain initial access to systems. The vulnerability's presence in email application components makes it particularly attractive for attackers targeting corporate email systems, as it can be used to compromise employee accounts and potentially gain access to sensitive organizational data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4045 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding across all affected application endpoints. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user-supplied parameters before processing them in the application, implementing proper HTML encoding for dynamic content, and applying Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. Organizations should also consider upgrading to newer versions of the @Mail application that address these vulnerabilities, as version 5.42 appears to be outdated and likely lacks modern security protections. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and input validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly focusing on preventing XSS attacks through proper data sanitization and encoding mechanisms.