CVE-2008-4147 in Mailsave
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Mailsave module 5.x before 5.x-3.3 and 6.x before 6.x-1.3, a module for Drupal, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an e-mail message with an attached file that has a modified Content-Type.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/09/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-4147 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Mailsave module for Drupal content management systems. This vulnerability specifically affects Drupal versions 5.x prior to 5.x-3.3 and 6.x prior to 6.x-1.3, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these older module versions. The flaw resides in how the Mailsave module processes email messages with attached files, particularly when those attachments contain modified Content-Type headers that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of email message attachments that have altered Content-Type headers. When a user views an email message containing such an attachment through the Drupal interface, the module fails to properly sanitize or escape the Content-Type information before rendering it in the web page context. This improper handling creates an XSS vector where attackers can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the affected Drupal site. The vulnerability is classified as a persistent XSS attack since the malicious content is stored within the email message and executed whenever users view the message.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to Drupal-based web applications that utilize the Mailsave module for email handling functionality. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability affects not only the confidentiality of user data but also the integrity and availability of the web application. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive information, potential data breaches, and compromised user trust. The attack surface is particularly concerning because email systems are frequently targeted by threat actors due to their perceived lower security controls compared to web application interfaces.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications, and demonstrates how improper input validation and output encoding can create dangerous security holes. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and credential access, specifically T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1531 for Account Access Through Persistence. The attack chain typically involves initial compromise through email delivery, followed by exploitation of the XSS vulnerability to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within the affected Drupal environment. Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of the Mailsave module, implement proper input validation for email attachments, and consider additional security measures such as web application firewalls and content security policies to mitigate the risk of exploitation.