CVE-2018-14964 in EMLsoft
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in EMLsoft 5.4.5. XSS exists via the eml/upload/eml/?action=address&do=edit page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14964 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within EMLsoft version 5.4.5 that specifically affects the eml/upload/eml/?action=address&do=edit web page interface. This issue falls under the category of insecure input handling where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users in the web application's response. The vulnerability exists in the address management functionality of the software, which allows authenticated users to manipulate the editing interface through maliciously crafted input parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious script content within the address editing parameters and submits it through the affected URL endpoint. The application fails to implement adequate output encoding or input validation mechanisms to prevent malicious scripts from executing in the context of other users' browsers. This weakness enables attackers to inject malicious javascript code that gets executed whenever other users view the compromised address records, creating a persistent cross-site scripting vector.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to the confidentiality and integrity of the affected system's user data. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, redirect users to malicious sites, or extract sensitive information from the application's environment. The impact is particularly concerning in environments where EMLsoft is used for email management, as it could enable attackers to access email communications, user credentials, or other sensitive data stored within the system. This vulnerability can be classified under CWE-79 as "Cross-site Scripting" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for "Phishing with Malicious Attachment" when combined with social engineering approaches.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise and can be automated using standard web application attack frameworks. Security practitioners should consider implementing comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and Content Security Policy headers to prevent such attacks. Additionally, regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in the application stack. Organizations using EMLsoft should immediately apply vendor patches if available, or implement network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls to protect against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding in web applications, particularly in administrative interfaces where users have elevated privileges.