CVE-2023-48379 in Mail SQR Expert
Summary
by MITRE • 12/15/2023
Softnext Mail SQR Expert is an email management platform, it has inadequate filtering for a specific URL parameter within a specific function. An unauthenticated remote attacker can perform Blind SSRF attack to discover internal network topology base on URL error response.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2024
The CVE-2023-48379 vulnerability affects Softnext Mail SQR Expert, an email management platform that suffers from insufficient input validation within a specific URL parameter handling function. This weakness creates a path for unauthenticated remote attackers to execute blind server-side request forgery attacks without requiring any authentication credentials or prior access to the system. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize and validate user-supplied URL parameters before processing them within the mail management functionality. Attackers can manipulate these parameters to force the application to make HTTP requests to internal network resources, leveraging the application's server-side processing capabilities to probe internal systems.
The technical flaw manifests as a blind ssrf vulnerability classified under CWE-918, which occurs when applications fail to properly validate and filter user-provided URLs in server-side contexts. The vulnerability operates by allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that cause the application to initiate connections to arbitrary internal services or resources, including internal ip addresses, ports, or services that would otherwise be inaccessible from the external network. The blind nature of this attack means that attackers cannot directly observe the responses from internal systems, but can infer information about the internal network topology through error message responses or timing differences in the application's behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to perform reconnaissance activities against internal network infrastructure without direct network access. This capability allows threat actors to map internal network topologies, identify running services, and potentially discover vulnerable internal systems that may serve as stepping stones for further attacks. The vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Softnext Mail SQR Expert, as it provides an automated means for attackers to gather intelligence about internal systems without requiring additional attack vectors or privileges. Organizations may experience unauthorized network reconnaissance, potential service discovery of internal applications, and increased risk of subsequent exploitation attempts targeting internal services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-48379 should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization for all URL parameters within the application's server-side processing functions. Security controls should include the implementation of allowlists for permitted URLs, strict validation of URL schemes and hostnames, and the removal of any functionality that allows arbitrary URL resolution. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level restrictions to prevent internal network access from the application servers, utilizing firewalls or network segmentation to limit potential attack surface. The application should be configured to reject any requests containing internal ip address ranges or localhost references, and administrators should monitor for unusual patterns of outbound network requests that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper logging and monitoring for URL parameter usage can help detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts in real-time. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1016 for system network configuration discovery and T1046 for network service scanning, making it a critical concern for organizations following defensive security frameworks.