CVE-2023-52269 in Security Gateway
Summary
by MITRE • 12/31/2023
MDaemon SecurityGateway through 9.0.3 allows XSS via a crafted Message Content Filtering rule. This might allow domain administrators to conduct attacks against global administrators.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-52269 affects MDaemon SecurityGateway versions through 9.0.3 and represents a cross-site scripting flaw that can be exploited through crafted Message Content Filtering rules. This vulnerability exists within the web-based administrative interface of the email security gateway product, creating a potential attack vector that could enable domain administrators to target global administrators within the same organization. The flaw specifically manifests when the system processes user-supplied input through the Message Content Filtering configuration mechanism, where insufficient input validation and output encoding occurs. This allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the victim's browser session when they access the affected administrative interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-controllable data within the filtering rule creation process. When administrators configure message content filters, the system accepts various input parameters including regular expressions, text patterns, and other rule components without proper validation. The CWE-79 weakness classification applies here, as the system fails to properly encode output data before rendering it in the web interface, creating conditions for script execution. Attackers can craft Message Content Filtering rules that contain malicious javascript payloads, which then get executed when global administrators view the filter configuration or when the system processes messages matching these rules. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the trust relationship between domain and global administrators, allowing privilege escalation through social engineering or direct exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it could enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions. Global administrators typically possess elevated privileges including access to system configuration, user management, email routing, and security policy settings. An attacker who successfully exploits this XSS vulnerability could potentially steal session cookies, redirect administrators to malicious sites, or execute commands within the context of the global administrator's session. This could lead to complete system compromise, unauthorized data access, or the ability to modify critical security policies. The ATT&CK framework classification would include techniques such as T1531 for credential access through session hijacking and T1078 for valid accounts usage, as the attack leverages legitimate administrative access paths.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application to the affected MDaemon SecurityGateway versions, as well as implementing additional defensive measures within the network environment. Organizations should ensure that all administrative interfaces are protected through proper access controls, network segmentation, and regular security audits. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting script execution sources. Regular monitoring of administrative interface logs for suspicious activities, including unusual rule creation patterns or unexpected session behavior, should be implemented. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block malicious payload delivery attempts. Administrators should also implement principle of least privilege, ensuring that domain administrators have the minimum required access rights and that global administrative privileges are carefully controlled and monitored. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and output encoding practices in web applications, particularly those handling administrative functions where privilege escalation risks are significant.