CVE-2024-1619 in Security for Linux Mail Server
Summary
by MITRE • 02/29/2024
Kaspersky has fixed a security issue in the Kaspersky Security 8.0 for Linux Mail Server. The issue was that an attacker could potentially force an administrator to click on a malicious link to perform unauthorized actions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1619 represents a significant security flaw within Kaspersky Security 8.0 for Linux Mail Server that exploits user interaction patterns to execute unauthorized administrative actions. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the mail server's web interface, creating an attack vector where malicious actors can manipulate administrative workflows through deceptive user interactions. The flaw specifically targets the administrative console functionality that handles link processing and user navigation, allowing attackers to craft malicious URLs that appear legitimate to administrators. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which addresses cross-site scripting (XSS) and related injection flaws that enable attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session. The attack scenario typically involves sending crafted emails containing malicious links to administrators, which when clicked, could redirect them to attacker-controlled pages or execute unauthorized commands within the mail server's administrative interface. The exploitation process leverages the trust relationship between the administrator and the mail server application, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses traditional authentication mechanisms by operating within the administrative context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of web-based administrative interfaces that do not properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before processing or displaying it within the server's management console. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that exploit the lack of proper sanitization in the mail server's web interface, potentially leading to unauthorized administrative actions such as modifying server configurations, accessing restricted data, or performing privilege escalation. The flaw demonstrates poor security practices in input validation and output encoding, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious content that can be executed in the context of an authenticated administrator session. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the ATT&CK framework's T1059.001 technique, which involves executing malicious code through command and scripting interpreters, and potentially T1531 for privilege escalation through administrative interface manipulation. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it operates at the application layer, where attackers can leverage legitimate administrative functionality to achieve their malicious objectives without requiring direct system-level access or elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-1619 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches, system compromise, and complete administrative control over the mail server infrastructure. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability could allow attackers to modify email routing rules, access sensitive email communications, alter user accounts, or even install backdoors within the mail server environment. The administrative interface manipulation capability means that attackers could potentially disable security features, create new administrative accounts, or establish persistent access points within the mail server ecosystem. Organizations relying on Kaspersky Security 8.0 for Linux Mail Server face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data exfiltration if this vulnerability remains unpatched. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires minimal technical expertise to execute, making it attractive to threat actors who may not possess advanced penetration testing skills. This vulnerability also creates potential for cascading effects within larger network infrastructures where compromised mail servers could serve as entry points for broader network infiltration attempts.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the official Kaspersky patch released to address this vulnerability, implementing network-level restrictions on administrative interfaces, and conducting thorough security assessments of their mail server configurations. The recommended remediation approach involves updating to the latest version of Kaspersky Security 8.0 for Linux Mail Server that contains the necessary security fixes and input validation improvements. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit direct access to administrative interfaces, while implementing additional monitoring and logging of administrative activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive user awareness training to help administrators recognize potentially malicious links and suspicious email content that could be used in social engineering attacks targeting the administrative interface. The implementation of web application firewalls and additional input validation controls at the application layer can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to protect against similar vulnerabilities in the future. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be performed to identify and remediate similar issues within the mail server infrastructure and associated applications.