CVE-2022-41350 in Zimbra Collaboration Suite
Summary
by MITRE • 10/13/2022
In Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS) 8.8.15, /h/search?action=voicemail&action=listen accepts a phone parameter that is vulnerable to Reflected XSS. This allows executing arbitrary JavaScript on the victim's machine.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-41350 affects Zimbra Collaboration Suite version 8.8.15 and represents a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the voicemail functionality of the web interface. This vulnerability exists in the /h/search endpoint where the phone parameter is processed without proper input validation or output encoding, creating an avenue for malicious attackers to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content, allowing an attacker to construct malicious payloads that will be executed when the vulnerable page is accessed by an unsuspecting user.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization mechanisms within the Zimbra web application's search functionality. When a user navigates to the voicemail listening interface and provides a phone parameter through the action=listen endpoint, the application directly incorporates this parameter into the page's HTML output without appropriate HTML escaping or encoding. This creates a classic reflected XSS scenario where an attacker can craft a malicious URL containing JavaScript code within the phone parameter, which gets executed in the victim's browser when the page is loaded. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate application functionality to deliver malicious payloads, making it difficult to distinguish between benign and malicious requests at the network level.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be exploited to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker could craft payloads that steal authentication cookies, capture keystrokes, or inject additional malicious content into the user's browsing session. The vulnerability affects all users who access the Zimbra voicemail functionality through the affected web interface, potentially compromising sensitive communication data and enterprise email systems. Given that Zimbra is widely used in enterprise environments for collaboration and communication, the exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to significant data breaches and unauthorized access to confidential business information.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting flaws, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation at the application level, output encoding of all user-supplied parameters, and the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. The most effective remediation involves updating to a patched version of Zimbra Collaboration Suite where proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms have been implemented. Additionally, network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls can provide temporary protection while permanent fixes are deployed, though these should not be considered a substitute for proper application-level security controls.