CVE-2015-2180 in RoundCube
Summary
by MITRE
The DBMail driver in the Password plugin in Roundcube before 1.1.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the password.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-2180 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Roundcube webmail application's password management functionality. This issue specifically affects the DBMail driver implementation in the Password plugin version prior to 1.1.0, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands on the affected server. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the password change process, where user-supplied data containing shell metacharacters is directly passed to system commands without proper escaping or filtering mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious user attempts to change their password through the Roundcube interface, providing specially crafted input that includes shell metacharacters such as semicolons, pipes, or backticks. These characters are interpreted by the underlying shell when the system processes the password change request, allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web server process. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-78 category known as "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in OS Command" which is a well-documented weakness in software systems that handle external input and execute system commands.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations using Roundcube webmail solutions, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to server resources, escalate privileges, exfiltrate sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access or prior authentication to the system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Roundcube is exposed to untrusted networks or user populations. The impact extends beyond simple command execution to potentially enable lateral movement within the network and privilege escalation attacks.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Roundcube version 1.1.0 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and command injection prevention measures. Additionally, administrators should review and implement proper input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture, including implementing proper escaping of shell metacharacters and using parameterized command execution where possible. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the vulnerable application to untrusted users. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.001 technique for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1068 for "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" when such vulnerabilities are successfully exploited in enterprise environments. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar injection vulnerabilities in other components of the email infrastructure stack.