CVE-2010-5336 in Webclient
Summary
by MITRE
IceWarp Webclient before 10.2.1 has XSS via an HTTP POST request: admin/login.html with the parameter username is persistent in 10.2.0.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-5336 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the IceWarp Webclient application prior to version 10.2.1. This security weakness specifically affects the administrative login interface at admin/login.html where the username parameter is processed without adequate input sanitization. The vulnerability manifests as a persistent XSS attack vector, meaning that malicious input injected through the username field can be stored and subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers who access the affected application. This particular flaw resides in the web application's handling of user-provided data during the authentication process, creating a significant risk for unauthorized access and data manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and sanitization of the username parameter within the HTTP POST request mechanism. When an attacker submits a malicious payload through the username field, the application fails to properly encode or filter the input before storing it in the system. The stored malicious code then executes whenever other users view the affected content or interact with the application, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over time. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as Cross-site Scripting, specifically demonstrating the characteristics of persistent XSS where the malicious script is stored on the server and executed against users who access the affected pages. The attack vector operates through the standard HTTP POST protocol, leveraging the administrative interface to maintain the persistence of the malicious code within the application's database or session management system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges, steal session cookies, perform unauthorized administrative actions, or redirect users to malicious websites. Given that the vulnerability affects the administrative login page, successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain full administrative control over the IceWarp Webclient system. The persistent nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the attack can continue to affect users long after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous for environments where the application serves multiple users or where administrative access is critical for system operations. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as the malicious scripts can be used to execute commands or manipulate the application's behavior, and T1566 for Phishing, as users may be redirected to malicious sites through the compromised interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-5336 require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures within the IceWarp Webclient application. Organizations should upgrade to version 10.2.1 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper sanitization of user inputs and implementation of appropriate HTML encoding for all dynamic content. The fix should include comprehensive validation of the username parameter to reject potentially malicious payloads, along with proper encoding of all user-supplied data before storage or display. Additional defensive measures include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, regular security scanning of web applications, and monitoring for suspicious login activity or unexpected data modifications. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit potential damage from successful exploitation, while user education about recognizing phishing attempts and suspicious login behaviors can provide additional layers of protection against social engineering attacks that may leverage this vulnerability.