CVE-2013-7103 in Email Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
McAfee Email Gateway 7.6 allows remote authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the value attribute in a (1) TestFile XML element or the (2) hostname. NOTE: this issue can be combined with CVE-2013-7092 to allow remote attackers to execute commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7103 affects McAfee Email Gateway version 7.6 and represents a critical command injection flaw that enables authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands. This vulnerability specifically resides within the XML processing functionality of the email gateway's administrative interface, where improper input validation allows maliciously crafted XML elements to be interpreted as executable commands rather than data. The flaw manifests when administrators process XML configuration files containing specially crafted TestFile elements or hostname attributes that contain shell metacharacters, which are then interpreted by the underlying operating system without proper sanitization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and validation within the XML parser component of the McAfee Email Gateway. When the system processes XML elements containing malicious shell metacharacters in the value attribute of TestFile elements or in hostname fields, it fails to properly escape or validate these inputs before passing them to system commands. This creates a classic command injection vulnerability where attacker-controlled data flows directly into shell execution contexts. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authenticated administrative access, which significantly reduces the attack surface compared to vulnerabilities requiring unauthenticated access. The issue becomes even more severe when combined with CVE-2013-7092, as this allows attackers to escalate from a simple authenticated session to full remote code execution capabilities, effectively bypassing many traditional network security controls.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on McAfee Email Gateway for email security and content filtering. The impact extends beyond simple command execution to potentially allow complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, modify email filtering rules, access sensitive email content, or use the compromised gateway as a pivot point for attacking internal systems. The vulnerability affects the core security functionality of the email gateway, potentially allowing attackers to bypass email security controls and gain unauthorized access to email traffic, which could result in significant data breaches and regulatory compliance violations. Organizations with email gateways configured with default or weak administrative credentials face an even higher risk, as the authentication requirement may be easily bypassed through credential stuffing or other attack vectors.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2013-7103 should involve immediate application of vendor patches and updates to the McAfee Email Gateway software to address the XML input validation flaws. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the email gateway administrative interfaces, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to the administrative portals. Additionally, implementing strict input validation measures and disabling unnecessary XML processing capabilities within the email gateway configuration can help reduce the attack surface. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative activities and malformed XML requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories related to command injection and code injection flaws, and it maps to ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and script execution and T1078 for valid accounts. Organizations should also consider implementing Web Application Firewall rules to detect and block malicious XML payloads targeting this vulnerability, while conducting thorough security assessments to ensure no other similar injection vulnerabilities exist within the email gateway infrastructure or related systems.