CVE-2010-2779 in GroupWise
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in WebAccess in Novell GroupWise 8.x before 8.0 SP2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted message, related to "replies."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2779 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Novell GroupWise 8.x email system, specifically affecting versions prior to 8.0 Service Pack 2. This vulnerability resides in the WebAccess component of the GroupWise platform, which provides web-based email access to users. The flaw manifests when the system processes message replies, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the email interface. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper validation or sanitization, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the crafting of specially formatted email messages that contain malicious script code within reply content. When a victim accesses their email through the WebAccess interface and encounters such a crafted reply, the embedded script executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages the trust relationship between the user and the email system, where users expect to safely read and reply to messages without encountering security risks.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Novell GroupWise for email services, as it can enable attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain access to sensitive corporate communications. The impact extends beyond individual user compromise to potential organizational security breaches, as attackers could harvest session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject persistent malicious content that affects all users who view the compromised messages. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where GroupWise WebAccess is widely used, as the attack requires minimal user interaction beyond simply viewing the malicious reply message.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2779 primarily involve applying the official Novell GroupWise 8.0 Service Pack 2 update, which addresses the XSS vulnerability through proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security assessments of their email systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and following secure coding practices as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's web application security categories, specifically focusing on preventing malicious code execution through input validation and output encoding mechanisms that protect against XSS attacks.