CVE-2012-0909 in Groupware Webmail Edition
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Horde_Form in Horde Groupware Webmail Edition before 4.0.6 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, related to email verification. NOTE: Some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The CVE-2012-0909 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw within Horde_Form component of Horde Groupware Webmail Edition versions prior to 4.0.6. This vulnerability specifically impacts the email verification functionality and allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the form processing subsystem that handles email verification requests. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that gets processed through the vulnerable form handler and subsequently rendered in web pages without proper sanitization.
This XSS vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web page content. The attack vector leverages the email verification process where user-supplied email addresses or related verification data are not adequately sanitized before being displayed or processed within the web application interface. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the original description suggest that the flaw may be present across multiple input fields or processing pathways within the email verification workflow rather than being limited to a single entry point.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0909 is significant for organizations utilizing affected versions of Horde Groupware Webmail Edition, as it provides attackers with a means to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to email accounts. The vulnerability specifically targets the email verification functionality, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently verify email addresses or where the system automatically processes verification requests. An attacker could inject malicious scripts that would execute whenever a victim views pages containing the compromised verification data, potentially leading to full account compromise, data exfiltration, or the establishment of persistent backdoors. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur without requiring physical access to the target system or network.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to Horde Groupware Webmail Edition version 4.0.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additional defensive measures should include implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly within form processing components. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. Regular security auditing of web applications and input validation mechanisms aligns with the ATT&CK framework's mitigation strategies for web application vulnerabilities. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns that could indicate attempts to exploit this or similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust input sanitization practices as fundamental security controls.