CVE-2008-6893 in WorldClient
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Alt-N MDaemon WorldClient 10.0.2, when Internet Explorer 7 is used, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted img tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2018
The CVE-2008-6893 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in Alt-N MDaemon WorldClient version 10.0.2 that specifically targets users operating Internet Explorer 7. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's handling of image tags, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data that is subsequently rendered in web contexts, particularly affecting the rendering of img tags that contain crafted malicious content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the specific behavior of Internet Explorer 7's rendering engine and its handling of certain HTML attributes within img tags. Attackers can construct malicious img tags containing JavaScript code or other malicious payloads that bypass the application's security controls. When a victim's browser processes these crafted elements, the embedded scripts execute in the context of the victim's session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities. This vulnerability specifically affects the WorldClient web interface component of MDaemon email server software, which provides web-based access to email functionality for users.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-6893 extends beyond simple script execution as it enables attackers to perform session manipulation and data exfiltration attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially access sensitive user information, modify email content, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where MDaemon servers serve as email gateways, as it could allow attackers to compromise multiple user accounts and potentially gain broader access to network resources. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in web applications, making it a well-documented and widely recognized security weakness.
Organizations utilizing MDaemon WorldClient 10.0.2 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding controls to prevent malicious content from being processed. The recommended approach involves implementing proper HTML sanitization routines that strip or encode potentially dangerous attributes from img tags and other HTML elements. Security patches from Alt-N should be applied immediately, as this vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent versions of the software. Network monitoring should include detection of suspicious img tag patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and users should be educated about the risks of clicking on untrusted links or content within email applications. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics involving malicious links and content delivery mechanisms.