CVE-2015-2181 in RoundCube
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in the DBMail driver in the Password plugin in Roundcube before 1.1.0 allow remote attackers to have unspecified impact via the (1) password or (2) username.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2181 represents a critical security flaw within the Roundcube webmail application's authentication mechanism. This issue specifically targets the DBMail driver implementation within the Password plugin, which is responsible for managing user credential updates. The vulnerability affects all versions of Roundcube prior to 1.1.0, making it a significant concern for organizations that have not yet upgraded their email infrastructure. The flaw manifests as multiple buffer overflows that occur during the processing of user authentication data, creating potential entry points for malicious actors seeking to compromise system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the DBMail driver component. When remote attackers submit specially crafted password or username parameters, the system fails to properly bounds-check the incoming data before processing it through the vulnerable buffer structures. This lack of proper input sanitization creates conditions where attackers can overflow predetermined memory buffers, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and does not require authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone with network access to the affected system.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2181 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as buffer overflows of this nature can enable remote code execution capabilities that would allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts and potentially escalate privileges within the system. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to manipulate user credentials, access sensitive email communications, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The unspecified impact mentioned in the original description reflects the potential for various malicious outcomes including data exfiltration, account takeover, or system compromise. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques targeting credential access and privilege escalation.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through upgrading to Roundcube version 1.1.0 or later, which includes patches addressing the buffer overflow conditions in the DBMail driver. Additional mitigations should include implementing network-level restrictions to limit access to the affected webmail interface, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of all email infrastructure components. Security teams should also review and test their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process must include thorough validation that the upgrade has properly addressed the buffer overflow conditions and that no residual vulnerabilities remain in the authentication handling components of the application.