CVE-2012-2586 in Mailtraq
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Mailtraq 2.17.3.3150 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an e-mail message subject with (1) a JavaScript alert function used in conjunction with the fromCharCode method or (2) a SCRIPT element; an e-mail message body with (3) a crafted SRC attribute of an IFRAME element, (4) a data: URL in the CONTENT attribute of an HTTP-EQUIV="refresh" META element, or (5) a Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) expression property in the STYLE attribute of an IMG element; or an e-mail message Date header with (6) a JavaScript alert function used in conjunction with the fromCharCode method, (7) a SCRIPT element, (8) a CSS expression property in the STYLE attribute of an arbitrary element, (9) a crafted SRC attribute of an IFRAME element, or (10) a data: URL in the CONTENT attribute of an HTTP-EQUIV="refresh" META element.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-2586 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Mailtraq version 2.17.3.3150, a widely used email server software that processes and displays email content within web-based interfaces. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the email message handling system, specifically targeting the rendering of email subjects, bodies, and headers. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or complete compromise of user sessions. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize input, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that has been consistently identified as one of the most prevalent and dangerous vulnerabilities in web applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through multiple attack vectors that leverage different HTML and JavaScript elements commonly found in email messages. Attackers can craft malicious email content that contains JavaScript alert functions combined with fromCharCode methods to bypass basic filters, or they can embed SCRIPT elements directly within email messages. Additionally, the vulnerability permits exploitation through crafted SRC attributes in IFRAME elements, data: URLs within HTTP-EQUIV="refresh" META elements, and CSS expression properties within STYLE attributes. These vectors demonstrate the breadth of attack surface that exists when email servers fail to properly sanitize all components of email content, including headers, subjects, and body elements. The attack complexity is relatively low since it requires only the ability to send email messages to the vulnerable system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where email is widely used and trusted.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attacks that leverage the trust relationship between users and the email system. When users view malicious emails within the Mailtraq interface, their browsers execute the embedded scripts, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability affects not only the email display functionality but also the entire email processing pipeline, as the attack vectors span across different email components including subject lines, message bodies, and header information. This comprehensive scope increases the probability of successful exploitation and makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors. The impact is further amplified by the fact that email systems often serve as primary communication channels for businesses and organizations, making successful exploitation potentially devastating.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2586 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the email processing system. Organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of Mailtraq or implement comprehensive content filtering that removes or sanitizes potentially malicious HTML and JavaScript elements from incoming emails. The implementation of strict Content Security Policy headers can help prevent script execution in email interfaces, while proper encoding of all user-supplied content before display ensures that malicious scripts cannot be executed. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing email security gateways that can detect and block suspicious email patterns, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other email processing systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and input validation as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's web application security domains, particularly in the context of email security and user interface sanitization. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle email-based attacks and ensure that all email processing systems undergo regular security reviews to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging.