CVE-2017-14092 in ScanMail for Exchange
Summary
by MITRE
The absence of Anti-CSRF tokens in Trend Micro ScanMail for Exchange 12.0 web interface forms could allow an attacker to submit authenticated requests when an authenticated user browses an attacker-controlled domain.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14092 represents a critical security flaw in Trend Micro ScanMail for Exchange 12.0 web interface that stems from the complete omission of Anti-CSRF tokens in web forms. This absence creates a significant attack vector that enables malicious actors to exploit the trust relationship between authenticated users and the vulnerable web application. The vulnerability specifically affects the web interface forms of ScanMail for Exchange, which is a widely deployed email security solution designed to protect Microsoft Exchange environments from various email-based threats. The lack of CSRF protection mechanisms means that when authenticated users navigate to attacker-controlled domains, their browsers will automatically submit requests to the vulnerable application without proper authentication verification.
This security weakness fundamentally violates the principle of proper authentication and authorization controls that should be implemented in web applications to prevent unauthorized actions. The vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities where applications fail to validate the origin of requests. The attack scenario involves an authenticated user visiting a malicious website or receiving a phishing email that contains embedded malicious requests targeting the vulnerable ScanMail interface. When the user's browser automatically submits these requests, they are executed with the user's authenticated session context, effectively allowing the attacker to perform actions on behalf of the legitimate user without their knowledge or consent.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised environment. Attackers could potentially modify email filtering rules, create new user accounts, access sensitive email content, or even disable security features within the ScanMail system. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users may be authenticated to the system simultaneously. The attack vector leverages the trust relationship that exists between the user's browser and the vulnerable application, which is a fundamental security principle that should always be maintained through proper CSRF protection mechanisms.
Organizations utilizing Trend Micro ScanMail for Exchange 12.0 should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying the vendor-provided security patches or updates that introduce proper Anti-CSRF token validation. The mitigation strategy should also include network-level protections such as implementing proper web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious cross-site request patterns. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable software within their environment and ensure that proper authentication and authorization controls are in place. Additionally, user education programs should be implemented to raise awareness about the dangers of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of maintaining secure browsing practices. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper CSRF protection mechanisms as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles and aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing, highlighting how the exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to broader compromise of the email infrastructure.