CVE-2022-31470 in Mobile WebMail
Summary
by MITRE • 06/08/2022
An XSS vulnerability in the index_mobile_changepass.hsp reset-password section of Axigen Mobile WebMail before 10.2.3.12 and 10.3.x before 10.3.3.47 allows attackers to run arbitrary Javascript code that, using an active end-user session (for a logged-in user), can access and retrieve mailbox content.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2022-31470 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Axigen Mobile WebMail application's reset-password functionality. This issue affects versions prior to 10.2.3.12 and 10.3.x prior to 10.3.3.47, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this email server solution. The vulnerability specifically resides within the index_mobile_changepass.hsp component, which handles mobile password reset operations, making it particularly dangerous given the widespread use of mobile email clients.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the mobile webmail interface. When users attempt to reset their passwords through the mobile client, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. This insufficient sanitization creates an environment where malicious actors can inject malicious javascript code through crafted input fields during the password reset process. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-79 - Cross-site Scripting, which is a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to execute scripts in the context of other users' sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker who successfully exploits this XSS flaw can execute arbitrary javascript code within the context of an authenticated user session. This means that when a legitimate user performs a password reset operation, the malicious script gets executed in their browser, potentially allowing the attacker to access and retrieve all mailbox content that the user has access to. The attack leverages the active session of the logged-in user, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses traditional authentication mechanisms and can access sensitive email communications, attachments, and personal information. This scenario directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, where the initial compromise occurs through a web-based attack vector that leverages existing user trust and session context.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic session hijacking attack pattern where the attacker doesn't need to authenticate separately but can leverage the existing authenticated session to perform unauthorized actions. The mobile webmail interface adds an additional attack surface since mobile users may be more susceptible to social engineering attacks or may be using less secure network connections. Organizations using Axigen Mobile WebMail versions affected by this vulnerability face significant risk of data breaches, including potential exposure of confidential communications, personal information, and business-sensitive data that could be accessed through the compromised user sessions.
Organizations should immediately implement several mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary and most effective mitigation is to upgrade to the patched versions of Axigen Mobile WebMail, specifically versions 10.2.3.12 or 10.3.3.47 and later. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding measures can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future. Security teams should also consider deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block XSS attack patterns, while implementing content security policies that restrict script execution. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of webmail interfaces should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing comprehensive input validation across all web application components, particularly those handling user authentication and sensitive data operations.