CVE-2010-3089 in Mailman
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in GNU Mailman before 2.1.14rc1 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving (1) the list information field or (2) the list description field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3089 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting GNU Mailman versions prior to 2.1.14rc1. This security weakness resides in the web-based administrative interface of the popular mailing list management system, which is widely deployed across organizations for managing email distribution lists. The vulnerability specifically targets two distinct input fields within the mailing list management functionality, creating opportunities for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the GNU Mailman web interface. When authenticated users with appropriate privileges attempt to modify list information or list description fields, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. This insufficient sanitization creates a pathway for attackers to inject malicious HTML content or JavaScript code that gets executed in the browsers of other users who view the affected list information. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses that allow attackers to inject client-side scripts into web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3089 extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to potentially hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. Since the vulnerability requires authentication, it primarily affects users with administrative privileges or those who can submit list modifications, but the scope of potential damage remains significant given that compromised administrative accounts could lead to complete system takeover. The attack vector involves the manipulation of list metadata fields, making it particularly insidious as legitimate administrative activities become potential attack vectors.
Organizations utilizing GNU Mailman versions before 2.1.14rc1 face substantial risk from this vulnerability, as it enables persistent XSS attacks that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to privilege escalation. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers scripting through web shells, and T1566 which encompasses social engineering attacks that leverage XSS to deliver malicious payloads. Security teams should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while also ensuring all administrative accounts maintain strong authentication mechanisms. The remediation process requires immediate upgrade to GNU Mailman version 2.1.14rc1 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms that prevent the injection of malicious content into web responses.