CVE-2011-1424 in SourceOne Email Management
Summary
by MITRE
The default configuration of ExShortcut\Web.config in EMC SourceOne Email Management before 6.6 SP1, when the Mobile Services component is used, does not properly set the localOnly attribute of the trace element, which allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via ASP.NET Application Tracing.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1424 affects EMC SourceOne Email Management versions prior to 6.6 SP1, specifically when the Mobile Services component is deployed. This issue stems from insecure default configuration practices within the web application's configuration file structure. The flaw manifests in the ExShortcut\Web.config file where the trace element lacks proper configuration of the localOnly attribute, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the security posture of the email management system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the ASP.NET tracing mechanism which, when improperly configured, can expose sensitive system information to authenticated users who are not authorized to access such data. The localOnly attribute in the trace element serves as a security control that restricts trace output access to the local machine only, preventing remote adversaries from retrieving potentially sensitive diagnostic information through trace files. When this attribute is omitted or set to false, the tracing functionality becomes accessible over the network, allowing attackers to gather information about the application's internal state, data structures, and potentially system configurations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the gathered trace information could provide attackers with insights into the application's architecture, data flow patterns, and internal implementation details. This reconnaissance data could subsequently be leveraged to identify additional attack vectors or craft more sophisticated exploits targeting the email management system. The vulnerability affects remote authenticated users, meaning that an attacker must first establish legitimate credentials to exploit this weakness, but the impact remains significant as it provides unauthorized access to system diagnostics that should remain confidential.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and represents a classic case of insecure default configurations that fail to properly enforce security boundaries. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration oversights can create substantial security risks, particularly when dealing with enterprise email management systems that handle sensitive organizational communications. From an attack perspective, this issue maps to techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under reconnaissance and credential access phases, where adversaries gather system information to inform subsequent exploitation efforts.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to EMC SourceOne Email Management version 6.6 SP1 or later, which contains the corrected configuration settings for the trace element. Additionally, security administrators should manually verify that the localOnly attribute is properly set to true in all relevant Web.config files within the application deployment. Network segmentation and access control measures should be reinforced to limit the potential impact of authenticated access, while regular security audits should verify that default configurations are properly hardened before deployment in production environments. The remediation process should also include monitoring for any unauthorized access attempts or trace file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.