CVE-2014-2392 in AppSuite
Summary
by MITRE
The E-Mail autoconfiguration feature in Open-Xchange AppSuite before 7.2.2-rev20, 7.4.1 before 7.4.1-rev11, and 7.4.2 before 7.4.2-rev13 places a password in a GET request, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by reading (1) web-server access logs, (2) web-server Referer logs, or (3) the browser history.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-2392 affects the email autoconfiguration feature within Open-Xchange AppSuite versions prior to specific security patches. This flaw represents a critical security oversight in how authentication credentials are handled during the email setup process, creating multiple attack vectors that could lead to unauthorized access to user accounts. The issue stems from the improper handling of sensitive information within URL parameters, specifically exposing passwords in cleartext through various logging mechanisms that are commonly maintained by web servers and browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the email autoconfiguration process generates GET requests that include authentication credentials directly within the URL query string. This design flaw violates fundamental security principles for credential handling and demonstrates a lack of proper input sanitization and secure communication practices. The GET method inherently exposes parameters in browser history, server logs, and referrer headers, making it particularly dangerous when sensitive data such as passwords are included in these requests. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-542, which describes the inclusion of sensitive information in log files, and CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with multiple pathways to obtain sensitive information from affected systems. Web server access logs typically contain full URLs including query parameters, making it trivial for an attacker with access to these logs to extract passwords from the autoconfiguration process. Additionally, browser history mechanisms and referer headers often retain this information, creating further opportunities for unauthorized access. The vulnerability affects multiple version streams of Open-Xchange AppSuite, indicating a widespread issue that would have impacted numerous organizations relying on this email platform. This exposure creates a significant risk for organizations where email autoconfiguration is enabled, as it essentially provides a backdoor for credential harvesting through legitimate system logging mechanisms.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Open-Xchange AppSuite, specifically versions 7.2.2-rev20, 7.4.1-rev11, and 7.4.2-rev13. Beyond patching, administrators should review and secure web server configurations to prevent sensitive data exposure in logs, implement proper URL parameter sanitization, and consider using POST requests instead of GET requests for credential transmission. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through social engineering and malicious links, and T1071, which addresses application layer protocols and communication channels. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect and alert on suspicious URL patterns containing authentication parameters, and organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their email infrastructure to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. Regular security audits and proper incident response procedures should be implemented to address potential exploitation of this flaw and prevent unauthorized access to user email accounts and associated sensitive information.