CVE-2015-3141 in Xeams
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in Synametrics Technologies Xeams 4.5 Build 5755 and earlier allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that (1) create an SMTP domain or (2) user via a request to /FrontController; or conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via the (3) domainname parameter to /FrontController, when creating a new SMTP domain configuration; the (4) txtRecipient parameter to /FrontController, when creating a new forwarder; the (5) popFetchServer, (6) popFetchUser, or (7) popFetchRecipient parameter to /FrontController, when creating a new POP3 Fetcher account; or the (8) Smtp HELO domain in the Advanced Server Configuration.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2025
The CVE-2015-3141 vulnerability affects Synametrics Technologies Xeams email server version 4.5 Build 5755 and earlier, presenting multiple cross-site request forgery and cross-site scripting flaws that collectively enable remote attackers to gain administrative privileges and execute malicious code within the targeted system. This vulnerability operates through the application's FrontController component which processes various administrative functions without proper CSRF protection mechanisms, creating a critical attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the entire email infrastructure.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation and protection mechanisms within the Xeams application's web interface, specifically targeting the FrontController servlet that handles administrative operations. The vulnerability manifests when attackers craft malicious requests that leverage the absence of anti-CSRF tokens or proper session validation, allowing unauthorized actions to be executed on behalf of authenticated administrators. The flaw affects multiple parameter inputs including domainname, txtRecipient, popFetchServer, popFetchUser, popFetchRecipient, and Smtp HELO domain parameters, all processed through the same vulnerable controller endpoint.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates a severe risk landscape where attackers can perform privileged actions such as creating new SMTP domains, adding users, configuring forwarders, setting up POP3 fetcher accounts, and modifying server configurations without authentication. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential data exfiltration, service disruption, and complete system compromise. The combination of CSRF and XSS vulnerabilities creates a particularly dangerous attack vector where initial unauthorized actions can lead to persistent malicious code execution within the application environment.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352 (Cross-Site Request Forgery) and CWE-79 (Cross-Site Scripting) classifications, representing a critical weakness in the application's input validation and session management mechanisms. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing) techniques, as attackers can leverage compromised administrative sessions to maintain persistence and conduct further reconnaissance. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these vulnerabilities affect core administrative functions that control email server configurations and user management.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust anti-CSRF token mechanisms throughout the application's administrative interface, enforcing proper input validation on all parameters, and applying session management best practices including secure cookie attributes and session timeout controls. Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of Xeams, implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, and deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests. Regular security audits should verify the implementation of proper authentication controls and input sanitization measures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.