CVE-2023-0470 in modoboa
Summary
by MITRE • 01/27/2023
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Stored in GitHub repository modoboa/modoboa prior to 2.0.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0470 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the modoboa email management platform, specifically affecting versions prior to 2024.04. This security weakness resides in the GitHub repository modoboa/modoboa and constitutes a significant risk to organizations relying on this email infrastructure solution. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into the application's data storage, which then execute whenever legitimate users access the affected functionality. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-site Scripting, which is classified as a critical web application security flaw that enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this stored XSS vulnerability occurs when user-supplied input containing malicious script payloads is not properly sanitized or validated before being stored in the application's database or storage mechanisms. In the context of modoboa's email management system, this typically involves user profile information, email content, or administrative configuration parameters where input validation is insufficient. When legitimate users access pages containing this stored malicious content, the browser executes the injected scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the fact that the malicious code remains stored within the application's backend systems and executes each time the affected data is rendered to users.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-0470 extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a vector for more sophisticated attacks within email environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal user sessions, access sensitive email communications, modify user permissions, or even escalate privileges within the email management system. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code remains active until the affected data is manually removed or the application is patched, potentially affecting multiple users over extended periods. Organizations using modoboa for email management face significant risks including data exfiltration, unauthorized access to email accounts, and potential compromise of entire email infrastructure. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which involves establishing persistence through modifications to email systems, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise email environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0470 require immediate patching of the modoboa application to version 2.0.4 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation for all user-supplied data, particularly in administrative interfaces and user profile management sections. The application should employ proper output encoding techniques when rendering user data to prevent script execution in browser contexts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities and conduct regular security assessments of their email infrastructure. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include both perimeter security controls and application-level protections against common web vulnerabilities such as XSS attacks.