CVE-2012-1103 in notmuch
Summary
by MITRE
emacs/notmuch-mua.el in Notmuch before 0.11.1, when using the Emacs interface, allows user-assisted remote attackers to read arbitrary files via crafted MML tags, which are not properly quoted in an email reply cna cause the files to be attached to the message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1103 represents a critical file disclosure issue within the Notmuch email client's Emacs interface, specifically affecting versions prior to 011.1. This flaw exists in the emacs/notmuch-mua.el component and exploits a weakness in how the system handles MML (MIME Meta Language) tags during email reply operations. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to manipulate the email composition process by crafting specially formatted MML tags that bypass proper quoting mechanisms, ultimately allowing unauthorized file access through email attachments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper sanitization of MML tag content within the Emacs interface. When users compose replies to emails containing maliciously crafted MML tags, the system fails to properly escape or quote these elements before incorporating them into the reply message. This creates a path where attacker-controlled file paths can be injected into the email attachment mechanism, allowing the system to read and attach arbitrary files from the local filesystem. The flaw specifically manifests during the email reply process, where the notmuch-mua.el script processes the MML content without adequate security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive data stored on the target system. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to read configuration files, personal documents, system logs, or other sensitive information that might be accessible to the user account running the Notmuch email client. The remote nature of the attack means that an attacker only needs to send a specially crafted email to a victim who uses the affected Notmuch version, making this a particularly concerning vulnerability for email-based reconnaissance and data exfiltration. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and represents a classic case of path traversal through malformed input processing.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the Notmuch email client to version 0.11.1 or later, which includes proper MML tag quoting and validation mechanisms. System administrators should also implement email filtering rules that can detect and block suspicious MML content in incoming emails, particularly when using older Notmuch versions in environments where patching cannot be immediately deployed. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening emails from untrusted sources and the potential for file disclosure through email attachments. Organizations should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can monitor for patterns consistent with MML injection attempts, and regular security audits should verify that all email clients and related components are properly updated to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 Phishing, as it represents a method for executing malicious code through email-based attack vectors and leverages the trust relationship between email clients and their users to achieve unauthorized file access.