CVE-2010-4546 in Lotus Notes Traveler
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Lotus Notes Traveler before 8.5.1.2 does not reject an attachment download request for an e-mail message with a Prevent Copy attribute, which allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions via this request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4546 affects IBM Lotus Notes Traveler versions prior to 8.5.1.2, representing a significant security flaw in email attachment access control mechanisms. This issue resides within the mobile email synchronization platform that enables users to access corporate email systems through mobile devices. The vulnerability specifically targets the attachment handling functionality within the email message processing pipeline, where proper access controls should prevent unauthorized retrieval of sensitive attachments. The flaw manifests when users attempt to download attachments from emails that have been explicitly marked with a Prevent Copy attribute, which should normally restrict such actions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of attachment download requests within the Lotus Notes Traveler server component. When an email message contains the Prevent Copy attribute, the system should enforce strict access controls that prevent any unauthorized download attempts. However, the vulnerable version fails to properly validate incoming download requests, allowing authenticated users to bypass these intended restrictions through crafted requests. This represents a classic access control bypass vulnerability that operates at the application layer and can be exploited by users who already possess valid authentication credentials within the system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a serious risk for organizations relying on Lotus Notes Traveler for mobile email access. Remote authenticated users who can successfully exploit this flaw can access sensitive email attachments that were specifically protected from copying or downloading. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure, as these protected attachments may contain confidential business information, proprietary data, or personally identifiable information that organizations have explicitly restricted to prevent unauthorized access. The vulnerability essentially undermines the security controls that administrators have implemented to protect sensitive email content, creating a pathway for data leakage through legitimate authenticated access channels.
The exploitability of this vulnerability requires only authenticated access to the Lotus Notes Traveler service, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by insiders or compromised accounts. Attackers can craft specific requests that target email messages with Prevent Copy attributes, effectively circumventing the intended protection mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in information security. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this under privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as it allows attackers to bypass access controls that should normally prevent data exfiltration.
Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided patch for IBM Lotus Notes Traveler 8.5.1.2 or later versions to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their email security policies and review access controls for sensitive email content. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual attachment download patterns, particularly for messages marked with protection attributes. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in mobile email systems and highlights the need for regular security assessments of enterprise collaboration platforms. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as data loss prevention measures and enhanced logging of attachment access activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.