CVE-2016-1000282 in Haraka
Summary
by MITRE
Haraka version 2.8.8 and earlier comes with a plugin for processing attachments for zip files. Versions 2.8.8 and earlier can be vulnerable to command injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1000282 affects Haraka email server versions 2.8.8 and earlier, specifically within its attachment processing plugin designed for zip file handling. This issue represents a critical security flaw that stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the email server's attachment processing pipeline. The vulnerability exists in the plugin responsible for handling compressed file attachments, which are commonly used in business communications and file transfer scenarios where email systems must process and validate user-submitted archives.
The technical flaw manifests as a command injection vulnerability that occurs when the zip file processing plugin fails to properly sanitize user-provided input before executing system commands. When Haraka processes email attachments containing zip files, the plugin performs various operations including file extraction, validation, and metadata processing. The vulnerability arises from the plugin's reliance on user-supplied zip file names and paths without adequate sanitization, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary commands that get executed within the context of the email server process. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability classified under CWE-77 and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for organizations relying on Haraka email servers for business communications. An attacker could execute arbitrary commands on the server hosting Haraka, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects the server's ability to properly validate and process legitimate email attachments while simultaneously creating an attack vector for malicious payload delivery. Given that email servers often operate with elevated privileges and have access to sensitive organizational data, successful exploitation could result in significant security breaches and compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including upgrading to Haraka version 2.8.9 or later where the command injection flaw has been addressed through proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to email server infrastructure and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious command execution patterns. The fix typically involves implementing proper input validation, using parameterized command execution, and ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly escaped before being processed by system commands. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing email content filtering rules that restrict or quarantine zip file attachments from untrusted sources, and establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.