CVE-2024-28186 in freescout
Summary
by MITRE • 03/12/2024
FreeScout is an open source help desk and shared inbox built with PHP.
A vulnerability has been identified in the Free Scout Application, which exposes SMTP server credentials used by an organization in the application to users of the application. This issue arises from the application storing complete stack traces of exceptions in its database. The sensitive information is then inadvertently disclosed to users via the `/conversation/ajax-html/send_log?folder_id=&thread_id={id}` endpoint. The stack trace reveals value of parameters, including the username and password, passed to the `Swift_Transport_Esmtp_Auth_LoginAuthenticator->authenticate()` function. Exploiting this vulnerability allows an attacker to gain unauthorized access to SMTP server credentials. With this sensitive information in hand, the attacker can potentially send unauthorized emails from the compromised SMTP server, posing a severe threat to the confidentiality and integrity of email communications. This could lead to targeted attacks on both the application users and the organization itself, compromising the security of email exchange servers. This issue has been addressed in version 1.8.124. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade should adopt the following measures: 1. Avoid Storing Complete Stack Traces, 2. Implement redaction mechanisms to filter and exclude sensitive information, and 3. Review and enhance the application's logging practices.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-28186 affects the FreeScout help desk application, an open source shared inbox platform built with PHP technology. This security flaw represents a critical information disclosure issue that exposes organizational SMTP credentials through improper exception handling mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from the application's insecure practice of storing complete stack traces containing sensitive data within its database infrastructure. The specific exposure occurs through the `/conversation/ajax-html/send_log?folder_id=&thread_id={id}` endpoint which inadvertently reveals exception details to authenticated users, creating a pathway for credential harvesting. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture where error handling practices fail to sanitize sensitive information before storage or transmission. The vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of email communications within the organization's infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves the extraction of SMTP credentials from stack trace information stored in the database. When exceptions occur during email authentication processes, particularly within the `Swift_Transport_Esmtp_Auth_LoginAuthenticator->authenticate()` function, the complete stack trace including username and password parameters are persisted in the database. This occurs because the application lacks proper input sanitization and output filtering mechanisms that should prevent sensitive data from being included in exception handling routines. The stack trace data reveals the complete parameter values passed to authentication functions, including authentication credentials that should never be exposed through error reporting mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which addresses information exposure through exception handling, and specifically demonstrates poor secure coding practices that violate fundamental security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass broader security implications for email communication systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains unauthorized access to SMTP server credentials, enabling them to send unauthorized emails from the compromised organization's infrastructure. This capability can be leveraged for phishing attacks, spam distribution, or social engineering campaigns that target both internal users and external parties. The compromised credentials may also allow attackers to access email archives, modify email routing configurations, or establish persistence within the email infrastructure. The vulnerability creates a significant risk to email confidentiality and integrity, potentially enabling man-in-the-middle attacks or credential stuffing attacks against other systems that may share the same authentication credentials. This threat landscape aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering through email-based attacks, and T1078, which addresses valid accounts usage for persistence.
The remediation approach for CVE-2024-28186 requires immediate implementation of proper exception handling and logging practices. Organizations should upgrade to FreeScout version 1.8.124 which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. When immediate upgrades are not feasible, administrators must implement several compensating controls including the elimination of complete stack trace storage in database systems. The application should implement redaction mechanisms that filter out sensitive parameters before any exception data is stored or transmitted. This includes configuring logging systems to sanitize authentication parameters and other sensitive data from error messages. Additionally, organizations should review their overall logging practices to ensure that sensitive information is never included in application logs or error reporting systems. Security controls should include implementing proper input validation, output encoding, and secure error handling procedures that prevent sensitive data exposure through any application interface. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding guidelines and implementing proper data sanitization practices in all application components that handle sensitive information.