CVE-2014-4946 in IMP
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Horde Internet Mail Program (IMP) before 6.1.8, as used in Horde Groupware Webmail Edition before 5.1.5, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) unspecified flags or (2) a mailbox name in the dynamic mailbox view.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2022
The CVE-2014-4946 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the Horde Internet Mail Program IMP and the broader Horde Groupware Webmail Edition ecosystem. This vulnerability exists within the webmail interface that millions of users rely upon for email communication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring any privileged access or authentication. The flaw manifests in two distinct attack vectors that exploit different input handling mechanisms within the application's user interface. The first vector involves unspecified flags that are processed by the application, while the second vector targets mailbox names within the dynamic mailbox view functionality, both creating opportunities for malicious code injection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Horde webmail application's rendering mechanisms. When users navigate through mailbox views or interact with various flags and parameters, the application fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic HTML content. This lack of proper sanitization creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can be executed as script code within the victim's browser context. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core functionality of email viewing and navigation, meaning that simply visiting a compromised mailbox or clicking on certain flags could trigger the XSS payload. The dynamic nature of the mailbox view makes this attack surface particularly broad, as it can be triggered through normal user operations rather than requiring specific malicious actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that leverage the compromised browser session. Attackers can execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of authenticated users, potentially leading to full account compromise, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the webmail environment. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but entire organizations that rely on Horde Groupware, as a single compromised mailbox could serve as a vector for broader network infiltration. Users may be redirected to malicious sites, have their email content manipulated, or experience complete session hijacking. The attack can be delivered through various means including email attachments, social engineering campaigns, or by compromising third-party services that integrate with the Horde platform. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers spearphishing with a link, as attackers can craft malicious links that exploit this vulnerability during routine email browsing.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4946 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to version 6.1.8 or later for IMP and 5.1.5 or later for Horde Groupware Webmail Edition. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures at multiple layers including web application firewalls, content security policies, and strict output encoding for all user-supplied data. Network administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious user behavior and anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected applications within their environment that may share similar input handling patterns. Regular security training for users on recognizing phishing attempts and suspicious email content remains crucial as these attacks often exploit human factors in addition to technical vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in legitimate functionality while maintaining the security posture of the email infrastructure.