CVE-2024-41960 in mailcow-dockerized
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2024
mailcow: dockerized is an open source groupware/email suite based on docker. An authenticated admin user can inject a JavaScript payload into the Relay Hosts configuration. The injected payload is executed whenever the configuration page is viewed, enabling the attacker to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of the user's browser. This could lead to data theft, or further exploitation. This issue has been addressed in the `2024-07` release. All users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2024-41960 affects mailcow dockerized, an open source groupware and email suite built on docker technology. This represents a critical server-side request forgery and cross-site scripting vulnerability that specifically targets the Relay Hosts configuration functionality within the administrative interface. The flaw exists in the input validation and output encoding mechanisms of the web application, where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-79 - Cross-site Scripting, which falls under the broader category of injection flaws that enable attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in administrative interfaces where privileged users have elevated access rights and can potentially compromise entire email infrastructures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated administrative user account, which significantly reduces the attack surface compared to vulnerabilities requiring unauthenticated access. However, the impact remains severe as administrative privileges provide attackers with extensive control over the email system. When an attacker injects JavaScript code into the Relay Hosts configuration, the payload executes in the context of the victim user's browser session, effectively enabling session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation attacks. The execution occurs whenever the configuration page is loaded, making this a persistent threat that can affect any user who views the affected interface. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, and T1566.002 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code through web-based interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise and persistent backdoor access. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish long-term access to email infrastructure, potentially compromising thousands of user accounts and email communications. The vulnerability affects the core administrative functionality of mailcow dockerized, which means that any organization relying on this platform for email services faces significant risk. The fact that there are no known workarounds means that organizations must immediately implement the recommended upgrade to the 2024-07 release to remediate the issue. This vulnerability represents a critical security gap that could enable attackers to pivot from the administrative interface to other connected systems, particularly given that email servers often serve as entry points for broader network attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only administrative access, which may be obtained through various means including credential theft, social engineering, or other pre-existing vulnerabilities, making it a particularly concerning threat to organizations that rely on mailcow dockerized for their email infrastructure.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the official release updates while implementing additional monitoring and access control measures. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly in administrative interfaces where privileged access exists. Security teams should review access controls and implement principle of least privilege measures to limit the impact of potential credential compromise. The vulnerability also highlights the need for regular security assessments of open source software deployments and the importance of maintaining current security patches. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious activities in their email infrastructure, as this vulnerability could serve as a stepping stone for more extensive attacks. Additionally, the incident underscores the critical importance of validating all user inputs and properly encoding outputs in web applications to prevent injection attacks, particularly in administrative interfaces that handle sensitive configuration data.