CVE-2010-3695 in IMP
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in fetchmailprefs.php in Horde IMP before 4.3.8, and Horde Groupware Webmail Edition before 1.2.7, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the fm_id parameter in a fetchmail_prefs_save action, related to the Fetchmail configuration.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2025
The CVE-2010-3695 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the Horde IMP email client and Horde Groupware Webmail Edition applications. This vulnerability specifically targets the fetchmailprefs.php component, which handles fetchmail configuration settings within the webmail interface. The flaw exists in versions prior to 4.3.8 for Horde IMP and 1.2.7 for Horde Groupware Webmail Edition, making a substantial portion of the user base susceptible to exploitation. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a classic cross-site scripting weakness, where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in web responses.
The technical exploitation occurs through manipulation of the fm_id parameter during the fetchmail_prefs_save action. When an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code and injects it into this parameter, the vulnerable application processes the input without adequate validation or sanitization. The malicious content is then executed within the context of other users' browsers who view the affected page, creating a persistent XSS vector that can compromise user sessions and steal sensitive information. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content and T1059.001 for command and control through script injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal authentication tokens, and access users' email accounts. The exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive email communications, potential data exfiltration, and further lateral movement within compromised networks. The vulnerability affects webmail administrators and end users who rely on fetchmail configuration features to manage email accounts, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where email systems serve as critical communication channels. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain persistent access to email infrastructure and potentially compromise the entire email ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected applications to versions 4.3.8 or later for Horde IMP and 1.2.7 or later for Horde Groupware Webmail Edition. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future, utilizing parameterized queries and context-sensitive encoding. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while user education about suspicious email content and link behavior remains crucial. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and the principle of least privilege in web application security, emphasizing that all user-supplied data must be treated as potentially malicious until validated through robust sanitization processes.