CVE-2012-0903 in Zimbra Desktop
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Zimbra Desktop 7.1.2 b10978 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) Username or (2) MailBox Name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0903 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Zimbra Desktop version 7.1.2 build 10978. This security weakness resides within the desktop email client application that users employ to access their email accounts through various protocols including imap, pop3, and smtp. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's user interface components, specifically in how the system handles authentication credentials and mailbox naming conventions. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious input strings that contain embedded script code, which then gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they interact with the affected application. The flaw manifests in two distinct attack vectors where either the Username field or the MailBox Name field can be manipulated to inject malicious content, making the exploitation surface quite broad within the application's user management functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities in software systems. The flaw occurs because Zimbra Desktop fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in the application's user interface elements. When users enter data into the Username or MailBox Name fields, the application stores this information without adequate filtering or encoding of potentially malicious content. This allows attackers to inject HTML tags or JavaScript code that executes in the browser context of other users who view the affected data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates in a client-side environment where the malicious scripts can access session cookies, potentially leading to session hijacking attacks. The attack requires no special privileges to execute and can be performed remotely by any attacker who can influence the input fields through legitimate application usage or by manipulating application data through other attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement scenarios. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform session hijacking, steal authentication tokens, and potentially gain unauthorized access to users' email accounts. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly as long as the affected version remains in use. Users who interact with compromised mailbox data or login credentials may unknowingly execute malicious code in their browsers, leading to complete account compromise. This type of vulnerability also enables attackers to perform phishing attacks by injecting malicious links or content into the application's interface, potentially tricking users into revealing sensitive information. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where Zimbra Desktop is widely deployed, as a single compromised user account can potentially provide access to corporate email systems and sensitive business data. The vulnerability can also be chained with other exploits to create more sophisticated attack scenarios, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on this email client.
Organizations should immediately implement several mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves updating to the latest version of Zimbra Desktop where the XSS vulnerabilities have been patched and properly sanitized. System administrators should also implement network-level filtering to prevent unauthorized access to the application and monitor for suspicious input patterns. Input validation should be strengthened at multiple levels including client-side and server-side processing to ensure all user-supplied data is properly escaped and encoded before being rendered in the application interface. Security monitoring tools should be configured to detect potential XSS attack patterns and alert administrators to suspicious activities. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of clicking on untrusted links or entering unknown data into email applications can help reduce successful exploitation attempts. The mitigation approach should also include implementing content security policies that restrict the execution of inline scripts and limit the potential damage from successful XSS attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and systems within the organization's infrastructure. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against persistent threats in email client environments.