CVE-2010-4339 in Hypermail
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Hypermail 2.2.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted From address, which is not properly handled when indexing messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2019
The CVE-2010-4339 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Hypermail 2.2.0 mailing list archiving application that demonstrates how improper input validation can create persistent security risks in web-based systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the message indexing functionality where the From address field is not adequately sanitized before being rendered in web interfaces, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of affected users' browsers. The flaw exists in the application's failure to implement proper output encoding or filtering mechanisms when processing user-supplied data that gets embedded into HTML content during message indexing operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious From address containing embedded script code that gets stored in the Hypermail database and subsequently displayed in the web interface without proper sanitization. When other users browse the archived messages, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a stored XSS variant where the malicious payload persists in the application's database and affects multiple users over time. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate output sanitization that violates fundamental web security principles.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4339 extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors including credential harvesting, browser fingerprinting, and privilege escalation within the context of the affected web application. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to systems where Hypermail is deployed, particularly in environments where users regularly browse archived mailing list messages. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of email communications stored within the Hypermail system, potentially exposing sensitive information shared through mailing lists. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) and T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) as attackers can use it to deliver malicious JavaScript payloads through email headers that get executed when messages are viewed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4339 require immediate implementation of proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms throughout the Hypermail application. Organizations should implement comprehensive HTML escaping for all user-supplied data that gets rendered in web interfaces, particularly in fields like From addresses that are commonly manipulated by attackers. The solution involves configuring the application to strip or encode potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, quotes, and script tags before storing or displaying user input. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution even if input validation is bypassed. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions, as this flaw represents a fundamental weakness in the application's data handling processes that violates core security design principles. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing proper security controls in legacy web applications that may not have been designed with modern security considerations in mind.