CVE-2010-3459 in AXIGEN Mail Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Ajax WebMail interface in AXIGEN Mail Server before 7.4.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2021
The CVE-2010-3459 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Ajax WebMail interface of AXIGEN Mail Server versions prior to 7.4.2. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based email interface that utilizes Ajax technology for dynamic user interactions, making it particularly concerning given the widespread use of webmail applications. Attackers exploiting this flaw could potentially execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, compromising user data and system integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Ajax WebMail interface components. While the exact injection vectors remain unspecified in the CVE description, such XSS vulnerabilities typically occur when user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web page content without proper sanitization or encoding. The Ajax interface likely processes user inputs through asynchronous requests, creating multiple potential entry points for malicious script injection. This could occur during email composition, address book manipulation, or any interactive web element where user data is processed and rendered back to the browser. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the webmail interface itself, which users interact with regularly, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it fundamentally compromises the security model of the email server. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to steal user credentials, access sensitive email communications, or establish persistent backdoors within the organization's email infrastructure. The vulnerability affects all users who access the webmail interface, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where email servers handle confidential business communications. The attack surface is broad since the Ajax interface typically handles numerous user interactions, increasing the probability of successful exploitation. Organizations relying on AXIGEN Mail Server versions before 7.4.2 could face significant data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential legal consequences due to unauthorized access to email communications.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to AXIGEN Mail Server version 7.4.2 or later, which includes the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additional mitigations include implementing proper input validation on all user-supplied data, enforcing strict output encoding for dynamic content, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of the email infrastructure, review access controls, and monitor for suspicious activities in email server logs. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the updated software to ensure compatibility with existing email services and user workflows. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training for users to recognize potential phishing attempts that might exploit similar vulnerabilities in the future, aligning with the broader ATT&CK framework's approach to defending against credential theft and initial access vectors.