CVE-2013-2302 in Active! mail
Summary
by MITRE
TransWARE Active! mail 6, when an external public interface is used, allows local users to obtain sensitive information belonging to arbitrary users by leveraging shell access, as demonstrated by a TELNET or SSH session to the server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2302 affects TransWARE Active! mail version 6 and represents a critical information disclosure flaw that emerges when the system operates with an external public interface. This vulnerability specifically targets local users who can exploit shell access to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data belonging to arbitrary users within the system. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate network services such as TELNET or SSH sessions to establish the initial foothold for information extraction. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the system's privilege escalation and access control mechanisms, allowing unauthorized local access to potentially sensitive user data through the exploitation of shell-based network connections.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and insufficient privilege separation within the TransWARE Active! mail system. When the application operates with an external public interface, it creates a surface area where local users can potentially manipulate shell sessions to access data that should normally be restricted to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of shell access and user privilege management, where the system fails to properly validate user credentials or enforce proper access boundaries during shell session operations. This weakness is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to exploit legitimate network services to perform unauthorized data access, bypassing normal security controls that would typically prevent such information disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a potential pathway for more sophisticated attacks including credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can access sensitive user information that may include email contents, user credentials, system configurations, and other confidential data that could be leveraged for further attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation through TELNET or SSH sessions means that it can be particularly challenging to detect and trace, as these are commonly used network protocols that may not raise immediate security alerts. Organizations running TransWARE Active! mail 6 with external interfaces face significant risk of unauthorized data access, potentially compromising user privacy and system integrity.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses inadequate access control mechanisms, and represents a clear example of improper privilege management in network services. The flaw demonstrates how network services that provide shell access can become attack vectors when proper access controls are not implemented or maintained. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, specifically targeting the T1078 and T1566 sub-techniques related to valid accounts and exploit public-facing application. The attack requires minimal sophistication to execute and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that do not properly monitor or restrict shell access to their mail servers. Organizations should consider implementing strict access controls, disabling unnecessary network services, and conducting regular security audits to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in their email infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of network access controls to restrict shell access to authorized personnel only, disabling unnecessary TELNET services in favor of more secure SSH implementations, and implementing proper user privilege separation within the mail system. System administrators should conduct comprehensive access reviews to ensure that only legitimate users have shell access and that appropriate logging mechanisms are in place to detect unauthorized access attempts. Regular security assessments should be performed to identify potential privilege escalation paths, and organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to isolate critical mail services from external interfaces. Additionally, patch management processes should be strengthened to ensure that known vulnerabilities in email systems are addressed promptly, and that proper security configuration guidelines are followed for all network services that provide shell access to prevent similar information disclosure vulnerabilities from occurring in the future.