CVE-2015-1619 in Email Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Secure Web Mail Client user interface in McAfee Email Gateway (MEG) 7.6.x before 7.6.3.2, 7.5.x before 75.6, 7.0.x through 7.0.5, 5.6, and earlier allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified tokens in Digest messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2022
The CVE-2015-1619 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within McAfee Email Gateway's Secure Web Mail Client interface, affecting multiple versions including 7.6.x before 7.6.3.2, 7.5.x before 75.6, 7.0.x through 7.0.5, and version 5.6. This vulnerability specifically targets the user interface component that processes Digest messages, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' sessions. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of tokens used in Digest message processing, allowing attackers to inject malicious content that gets executed when legitimate users view affected messages.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of unspecified tokens within Digest messages that are processed by the Secure Web Mail Client. When authenticated users access these specially crafted messages, the malicious scripts or HTML content embedded in the tokens are executed in the context of their browser sessions, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user input before including it in web page output. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic XSS pattern where the attack vector involves legitimate user interface components that should never be trusted with unvalidated input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the email gateway environment. An authenticated attacker with access to the email gateway can craft malicious Digest messages that, when viewed by other users, could lead to complete session compromise or unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the Secure Web Mail Client, which serves as the primary interface for users to interact with email content, making it a high-value target for attackers seeking persistent access to email infrastructure. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, where the attack vector involves legitimate email client components that are trusted by users, making user education and awareness particularly challenging.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of McAfee Email Gateway face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it requires only authenticated access to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where email gateway access is relatively common. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version streams including 7.6.x, 7.5.x, 7.0.x, and 5.6 indicates a widespread issue that affects various deployment scenarios. Immediate remediation efforts should focus on upgrading to patched versions of McAfee Email Gateway, specifically versions 7.6.3.2, 75.6, and 7.0.6, respectively, as these releases contain the necessary input validation fixes. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the scope of potential exploitation, while monitoring for suspicious email traffic patterns and user behavior anomalies can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation across all user interface components and demonstrates the critical need for regular security updates and patch management processes in email security infrastructure.