CVE-2018-6291 in Secure Mail Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
WebConsole Cross-Site Scripting in Kaspersky Secure Mail Gateway version 1.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2020
The CVE-2018-6291 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the WebConsole interface of Kaspersky Secure Mail Gateway version 1.1, exposing organizations to potential security risks through malicious script execution. This vulnerability resides in the web-based management interface that administrators use to configure and monitor the email security appliance, making it a critical target for attackers seeking to compromise the security infrastructure. The flaw specifically affects the WebConsole component which handles user input and displays content without proper sanitization mechanisms, creating an environment where malicious actors can inject harmful scripts that execute in the context of authenticated users.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in web applications where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without adequate validation or encoding. The vulnerability manifests when the WebConsole fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web responses, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through various input vectors within the management interface. This weakness enables attackers to execute scripts in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized access to administrative functions, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the compromised system.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-6291 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the email security infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive configuration data, modify security policies, or even escalate privileges within the management interface. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the WebConsole interface typically requires administrative privileges to access, meaning successful exploitation could result in complete compromise of the email security gateway. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers scripting through web shells, as the XSS flaw could enable attackers to establish persistent access through malicious script delivery.
Organizations utilizing Kaspersky Secure Mail Gateway version 1.1 should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying the vendor-provided security patches or updates that correct the input sanitization flaws in the WebConsole interface. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit exposure of the management interface to trusted networks only, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect suspicious script injection attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and input validation practices, as it demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in web application interfaces can create significant security risks. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls and content security policies to provide defense-in-depth against similar scripting vulnerabilities. The incident highlights the necessity of following security best practices including proper input validation, output encoding, and regular security testing to prevent exploitation of such cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in enterprise security infrastructure components.