CVE-2019-7219 in WebAccess
Summary
by MITRE
Unauthenticated reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) exists in Zarafa WebAccess 7.2.0-48204. NOTE: this is a discontinued product. The issue was fixed in later Zarafa WebAccess versions; however, some former Zarafa WebAccess customers use the related Kopano product instead.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-7219 represents a critical unauthenticated reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the Zarafa WebAccess 7.2.0-48204 application. This security weakness allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users through reflected input parameters, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited without requiring any authentication credentials. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based interface component of the Zarafa email collaboration platform, which was widely used for enterprise email and calendaring services before its discontinuation. The issue manifests when user-supplied input is reflected back in the application's response without proper sanitization or encoding, creating an environment where malicious payloads can be executed within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this reflected XSS vulnerability occurs when the Zarafa WebAccess application fails to properly validate and sanitize user input parameters before incorporating them into dynamic web content. This flaw typically exists in areas where the application processes query string parameters, form fields, or other user-controllable inputs that are then displayed in the browser without adequate output encoding. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when clicked by an unsuspecting user, will execute within that user's browser session. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious script is not stored on the server but is instead reflected back to the user from the web application itself, making it particularly dangerous for targeted attacks. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised user sessions. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface web pages, or even escalate privileges within the email system if the application has sufficient access controls. The unauthenticated nature of this flaw makes it particularly dangerous as it requires no prior access credentials to exploit, allowing attackers to target any user who visits a maliciously crafted URL. The vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments where email systems are central to business operations, as successful exploitation could lead to data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive communications, and potential lateral movement within the network. Organizations using the discontinued Zarafa WebAccess platform were particularly vulnerable, though some customers migrated to the successor Kopano platform which addressed this issue in later versions.
The remediation for this vulnerability requires immediate application of security patches provided by the vendor or migration to supported versions of the software. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their web applications to prevent reflected XSS attacks. The fix typically involves sanitizing all user input before incorporating it into web responses and implementing proper content security policies to restrict script execution. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications. The transition from Zarafa WebAccess to Kopano represents a necessary migration path for affected organizations, as the newer platform includes enhanced security measures specifically designed to prevent reflected XSS and other common web application vulnerabilities. Additionally, regular security training for users to recognize suspicious links and email content remains essential in mitigating the risks associated with this type of attack vector.