CVE-2015-0883 in Mailform Pro Cgi
Summary
by MITRE
SYNCK GRAPHICA Mailform Pro CGI 4.1.4 and 4.1.5, when the mailauth module is enabled, does not properly send e-mail messages, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0883 affects SYNCK GRAPHICA Mailform Pro CGI versions 4.1.4 and 4.1.5, specifically when the mailauth module is enabled. This issue represents a critical security flaw that stems from improper email message handling within the application's mail authentication mechanism. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-94, which encompasses "Improper Control of Generation of Code" and falls within the broader category of code injection vulnerabilities. The flaw manifests when the mailauth module processes email communications, creating an environment where malicious actors can exploit the system's failure to properly validate or sanitize email message contents.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that leverage the mailauth module's inadequate email message handling capabilities. When the module processes email messages, it fails to properly validate input parameters, allowing attackers to inject malicious code that gets executed within the application context. This code execution vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application level, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the server hosting the vulnerable Mailform Pro CGI application. The vulnerability is categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python" and T1059.006 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" when considering the potential execution pathways.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to the underlying server infrastructure. Successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on email form processing for legitimate business communications, making it particularly concerning for enterprises with significant email traffic volumes. Security professionals must understand that the mailauth module's improper email handling creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly until properly patched. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it operates silently in the background, making detection more challenging for security monitoring systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0883 require immediate patching of the affected Mailform Pro CGI versions, specifically upgrading to versions that properly address the email message handling flaw. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the vulnerable application and deploy intrusion detection systems that monitor for suspicious email processing patterns. The security community recommends disabling the mailauth module when not actively required, as this reduces the attack surface significantly. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's email processing components can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future deployments. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their web applications to identify and remediate similar code execution vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of their infrastructure.