CVE-2010-4930 in Atmail
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in @mail Webmail before 6.2.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the MailType parameter in a mail/auth/processlogin action.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2025
The CVE-2010-4930 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the @mail Webmail application affecting versions prior to 6.2.0. This vulnerability resides within the index.php file and specifically targets the MailType parameter handling during the mail/auth/processlogin action sequence. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers, fundamentally compromising the web application's security posture. The vulnerability operates by failing to properly sanitize or validate user input before incorporating it into web page responses, creating an avenue for persistent malicious code injection that can persist across multiple user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is directly embedded into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The attack vector specifically exploits the lack of input sanitization in the MailType parameter, which is processed during the authentication and mail handling workflow. When users navigate to the affected action path and the application processes the MailType parameter, the malicious input gets rendered in the browser context without appropriate HTML escaping or context-specific encoding. This allows attackers to craft payloads that can execute in the victim's browser, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the authenticated user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model of webmail applications and creates persistent security risks for organizations relying on @mail Webmail. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, harvest sensitive email content, or perform account takeovers by stealing session tokens. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of affected installations, as any user who accesses the vulnerable application during the authentication process becomes susceptible to the attack. The persistence of this flaw across multiple sessions makes it particularly dangerous, as successful exploitation can maintain long-term access to user mail accounts and potentially compromise entire organizational email infrastructures. Security researchers have noted that such vulnerabilities often serve as initial access points for more sophisticated attacks, enabling lateral movement within networks or escalation to higher privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4930 should prioritize immediate application updates to version 6.2.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation flaws. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including HTML encoding of all user-supplied data before rendering in web contexts, and employ Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities. The implementation of proper parameter validation and secure coding practices, such as those outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices, should be enforced throughout the application development lifecycle. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect suspicious parameter patterns and anomalous authentication requests that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all webmail installations and implement regular security audits to prevent similar issues from arising in the future, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1566, which involves the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities for initial access, emphasizing the need for comprehensive application security controls and regular patch management procedures.