Microsoft Outlook 2002/XP mailto cross site scripting

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Outlook 2002/XP. It has been classified as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component mailto Handler. The manipulation with the input " leads to cross site scripting. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2004-0121. The attack can be initiated remotely. Additionally, an exploit exists. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Microsoft Outlook 2002/XP (Groupware Software). This issue affects an unknown code block of the component mailto Handler. The manipulation with the input value &quot; leads to a cross site scripting vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-80. The product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special characters such as "<", ">", and "&" that could be interpreted as web-scripting elements when they are sent to a downstream component that processes web pages. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Argument injection vulnerability in Microsoft Outlook 2002 does not sufficiently filter parameters of mailto: URLs when using them as arguments when calling OUTLOOK.EXE, which allows remote attackers to use script code in the Local Machine zone and execute arbitrary programs.

The weakness was released 03/09/2004 by Jouko Pynnönen with iDefense as MS04-009 (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at idefense.com. The public release was coordinated with Microsoft. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2004-0121. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details as well as a public exploit are known. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1059.007 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

The exploit is available at cvsweb.nessus.org. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 12092 (MS04-009: Vulnerability in Outlook could allow code execution (828040)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows : Microsoft Bulletins and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 105010 (Microsoft Outlook Mailto Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability (MS04-009)).

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at microsoft.com. A possible mitigation has been published before and not just after the disclosure of the vulnerability. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 2706.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (15429), Exploit-DB (23796), Tenable (12092), SecurityFocus (BID 9827†) and OSVDB (4168†). microsoft.com is providing further details. Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.7

VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.7
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Cross site scripting
CWE: CWE-80 / CWE-74 / CWE-707
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

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Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 12092
Nessus Name: MS04-009: Vulnerability in Outlook could allow code execution (828040)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: microsoft.com
TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

ISS Proventia IPS: 🔍
PaloAlto IPS: 🔍
Fortigate IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

11/12/2003 🔍
03/09/2004 +118 days 🔍
03/09/2004 +0 days 🔍
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03/09/2004 +0 days 🔍
03/09/2004 +0 days 🔍
03/10/2004 +0 days 🔍
03/10/2004 +0 days 🔍
03/10/2004 +0 days 🔍
04/15/2004 +36 days 🔍
09/17/2025 +7825 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS04-009⛔
Researcher: Jouko Pynnönen
Organization: iDefense
Status: Confirmed
Coordinated: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2004-0121 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2004-0121
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-551

OVAL: 🔍

CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 15429 - Microsoft Outlook MS04-009 patch is not installed, High Risk
SecurityFocus: 9827 - Microsoft Outlook Mailto Parameter Quoting Zone Bypass Vulnerability
Secunia: 11076 - Microsoft Outlook 2002 mailto URI Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability, Highly Critical
OSVDB: 4168 - Microsoft Outlook 2002 mailto URI Script Injection
Vulnerability Center: 3944 - [MS04-009] Microsoft Outlook 2002 Allows Cross Site Scripting, Medium

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
Misc.: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/10/2004 09:26
Updated: 09/17/2025 14:25
Changes: 03/10/2004 09:26 (101), 06/27/2019 21:41 (3), 01/02/2025 12:31 (18), 07/13/2025 19:04 (2), 09/17/2025 14:25 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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