CVE-2009-1590 in FORM2MAIL
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in CGI RESCUE FORM2MAIL before 1.42 allows remote attackers to send email to arbitrary recipients via a web form.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-1590 affects CGI RESCUE FORM2MAIL version 1.41 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in web-based email submission systems. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the form processing mechanism, creating a path for malicious actors to manipulate the email delivery functionality. The vulnerability exists in the core email routing logic where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into email recipient fields without proper security controls. This allows unauthorized users to redirect email messages to arbitrary addresses, potentially enabling spam campaigns, data exfiltration, or social engineering attacks against unintended recipients.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the form processing script's handling of recipient parameters, where the application fails to validate or sanitize email addresses submitted through web forms. Attackers can exploit this by manipulating form fields to inject malicious email addresses into the recipient list, bypassing normal email validation mechanisms. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through standard web browser interactions, requiring no specialized tools or privileges beyond basic web access. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20 as "Improper Input Validation," specifically manifesting as improper sanitization of user-supplied data that leads to unauthorized email delivery.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple email redirection, potentially enabling attackers to conduct large-scale spam operations, harvest email addresses from targeted organizations, or deliver malicious content to unintended recipients. Organizations using affected versions of RESCUE FORM2MAIL face significant risks including reputation damage, compliance violations, and potential legal consequences from unauthorized email distribution. The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to send phishing emails, spam campaigns, or even malicious attachments to addresses outside the intended recipient scope. This represents a serious compromise of email security controls and can be leveraged as part of broader attack campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching to version 1.42 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization of email recipient fields. Organizations should implement additional security measures such as email address validation, rate limiting for form submissions, and monitoring for unusual email delivery patterns. The implementation of proper access controls and authentication mechanisms for form submission endpoints can help prevent unauthorized exploitation. Security teams should also consider deploying email filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious email patterns originating from compromised forms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications and social engineering through email, with potential lateral movement opportunities through compromised email infrastructure. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other instances of similar vulnerable applications and ensure proper security configurations across all email processing systems.