CVE-2010-4778 in IMP
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in fetchmailprefs.php in Horde IMP before 4.3.8, and Horde Groupware Webmail Edition before 1.2.7, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) username (aka fmusername), (2) password (aka fmpassword), or (3) server (aka fmserver) field in a fetchmail_prefs_save action, related to the Fetchmail configuration, a different issue than CVE-2010-3695. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4778 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting the Horde IMP email client and Horde Groupware Webmail Edition applications. This vulnerability specifically targets the fetchmailprefs.php component which handles email account configuration settings, making it a significant concern for webmail system security. The flaw exists in versions prior to 4.3.8 for Horde IMP and 1.2.7 for Horde Groupware Webmail Edition, indicating a widespread impact across multiple versions of these popular webmail platforms. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a classic cross-site scripting flaw, where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages, creating opportunities for malicious code injection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the fetchmail_prefs_save action where three specific input parameters become attack vectors. The username field (fmusername), password field (fmpassword), and server field (fmserver) all present opportunities for attackers to inject malicious scripts. When these parameters are processed and stored in the application's configuration handling system, the lack of proper input validation and output encoding allows attacker-controlled content to be executed in the context of other users' browsers. This particular vulnerability operates through the web interface where users configure their email accounts, making it accessible to any authenticated user who can manipulate the fetchmail preferences, or potentially to unauthenticated attackers who can exploit the vulnerability through other means.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities within the targeted environment. An attacker could inject scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface webmail interfaces, or even execute commands on behalf of other users. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in shared hosting environments or enterprise settings where multiple users access the same webmail infrastructure. The specific nature of the flaw relates to the Fetchmail configuration handling, which means that successful exploitation could allow attackers to modify email account settings, potentially enabling them to redirect email traffic or access sensitive email data through compromised account configurations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4778 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems to upgrade to versions 4.3.8 or later for Horde IMP and 1.2.7 or later for Horde Groupware Webmail Edition. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation at multiple layers, output encoding for all user-supplied data, and regular security audits of web applications. The vulnerability's relationship to the ATT&CK framework can be mapped to techniques involving web application exploitation and credential access, where the XSS vulnerability could be leveraged to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to user accounts. Additionally, implementing content security policies and using web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers against similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should also conduct regular penetration testing and vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other web applications that might be vulnerable to similar cross-site scripting attacks.