CVE-2017-5870 in ViMbAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ViMbAdmin 3.0.15 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) domain or (2) transport parameter to domain/add; the (3) name parameter to mailbox/add/did/; the (4) goto parameter to alias/add/did/; or the (5) captchatext parameter to auth/lost-password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2020
The CVE-2017-5870 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting ViMbAdmin version 3.0.15, a web-based email administration tool that manages virtual mail domains and users. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's parameter handling processes. The flaw exists across multiple endpoints where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web responses without proper encoding or filtering, creating multiple attack vectors that can be exploited by remote adversaries to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through five distinct parameter injection points that collectively represent a comprehensive XSS attack surface. The domain and transport parameters in the domain/add endpoint provide the first vector, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts through domain configuration inputs. The name parameter within mailbox/add/did/ represents a second attack vector where mailbox creation forms fail to properly sanitize user input. The goto parameter in alias/add/did/ creates a third avenue for exploitation, while the captchatext parameter in auth/lost-password serves as a fourth entry point that bypasses CAPTCHA validation mechanisms. Each of these parameters fails to implement proper input sanitization, allowing attackers to embed malicious JavaScript code that executes when the affected pages are rendered.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, redirect victims to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms of ViMbAdmin, potentially allowing unauthorized access to email administration functions. Attackers can leverage these XSS flaws to escalate privileges, modify email configurations, create new user accounts, or access sensitive administrative interfaces. The presence of multiple injection points increases the attack surface and reduces the effectiveness of potential defensive measures, as an attacker only needs to find one vulnerable parameter to gain access to the system.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web security. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application vulnerability that can be leveraged for privilege escalation and persistent access, as attackers can use these flaws to maintain long-term presence within the compromised environment. The vulnerability also relates to CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and CWE-352, which covers cross-site request forgery issues that often compound XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations using ViMbAdmin should implement immediate mitigations including input sanitization, output encoding, and proper parameter validation across all affected endpoints. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications, as this flaw demonstrates the common pattern of insufficient sanitization in web interfaces that handle user-provided data. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies including web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security updates to protect against similar attacks in the future.