CVE-2009-4077 in Roundcube
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Roundcube Webmail 0.2.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of unspecified users for requests that send arbitrary emails via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2009-4076.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2025
The CVE-2009-4077 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in Roundcube Webmail versions 0.2.2 and earlier. This vulnerability operates within the context of web application security where unauthorized parties can exploit the lack of proper authentication verification mechanisms to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The flaw specifically enables remote attackers to hijack user sessions and execute email-related operations without the victim's knowledge or consent, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on web-based email systems for communication and collaboration.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of anti-CSRF tokens or similar protective mechanisms within Roundcube's web interface. When users access the webmail application, the system fails to validate that requests originate from legitimate user interactions rather than maliciously crafted requests. Attackers can construct specially crafted web pages or email attachments that contain embedded requests to the Roundcube server, which automatically execute using the victim's authenticated session cookies. This allows unauthorized email sending operations to be performed with the privileges and permissions of the compromised user account.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple email spoofing or unauthorized message sending. An attacker could potentially use this vulnerability to exfiltrate sensitive information, establish persistent access through email-based command and control channels, or conduct social engineering campaigns that appear to originate from legitimate user accounts. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations where webmail systems serve as primary communication platforms, as compromised accounts could lead to widespread security incidents including data breaches, phishing attacks, and unauthorized access to corporate email infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-352 indicates it falls within the well-established category of cross-site request forgery flaws that have been documented and studied extensively in web security literature.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1566 which focuses on credential access through social engineering and phishing attacks. This particular flaw enables attackers to leverage the trust relationship between users and web applications to perform unauthorized actions, effectively bypassing traditional authentication mechanisms. Organizations implementing Roundcube Webmail without proper CSRF protection measures face significant exposure to automated attack campaigns that can systematically compromise user accounts and establish persistent threats within their email environments. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws in web applications can create substantial security risks when users engage with potentially malicious content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4077 require immediate implementation of proper CSRF token validation mechanisms within the Roundcube application. Organizations should upgrade to patched versions of Roundcube Webmail that incorporate anti-CSRF protections, typically through the inclusion of unique tokens that validate request authenticity. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications. User education regarding the dangers of clicking suspicious links or opening untrusted email attachments remains crucial in preventing exploitation of this vulnerability, as social engineering remains the primary attack vector for CSRF exploitation in webmail environments.