CVE-2013-6275 in Groupware Webmail Edition
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple CSRF issues in Horde Groupware Webmail Edition 5.1.2 and earlier in basic.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6275 represents a significant cross-site request forgery issue affecting Horde Groupware Webmail Edition versions 5.1.2 and earlier. This flaw resides within the basic.php component of the webmail application, which serves as a fundamental interface for user interactions and system operations. The vulnerability stems from the application's insufficient validation of HTTP requests, particularly those originating from external sources or crafted by malicious actors. CSRF attacks exploit the trust relationship between web applications and users by tricking authenticated users into executing unintended actions without their knowledge or consent. In the context of Horde Groupware, this vulnerability could enable attackers to perform unauthorized operations such as modifying user preferences, creating new accounts, or altering system configurations through carefully crafted malicious requests.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in the application's request verification mechanisms. When users navigate to the basic.php interface, the system should validate that incoming requests originate from legitimate sources and contain appropriate security tokens to prevent unauthorized modifications. However, the affected versions lack proper anti-CSRF token implementation or fail to adequately validate existing tokens, leaving the application susceptible to exploitation. This weakness aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities in software applications. The flaw essentially allows attackers to craft malicious web pages or emails that, when visited by authenticated users, automatically submit requests to the vulnerable Horde Groupware instance. These requests appear legitimate to the server because they contain valid session cookies and user authentication information, but they execute unintended operations that could compromise user data or system integrity.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-6275 extends beyond simple data manipulation to potentially compromise entire user accounts and system security. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to perform actions such as changing user passwords, accessing sensitive email communications, or creating new administrative accounts with elevated privileges. The attack vector typically involves social engineering techniques where users are tricked into visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links that contain embedded CSRF payloads. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on Horde Groupware for email services, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to confidential communications and potential data breaches. The implications are further amplified when considering that Horde Groupware often serves as a central communication platform within enterprise environments, making the compromise of a single user account potentially devastating to overall organizational security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-6275 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security architecture improvements. The primary solution involves implementing robust anti-CSRF token mechanisms throughout the application's interface, ensuring that every state-changing request requires a valid, time-limited token that is tied to the user's current session. Organizations should upgrade to Horde Groupware versions 5.1.3 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Security measures should also include comprehensive input validation, proper session management, and regular security audits of web applications. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and other web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection against CSRF attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of adhering to security best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, particularly in ensuring that web applications properly validate user requests and maintain session integrity. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to help identify and avoid social engineering attacks that exploit CSRF vulnerabilities. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for continuous security monitoring and timely patch management to protect against known exploits that could otherwise provide attackers with persistent access to sensitive systems and data.