Ipswitch IMail 7.0.4 and earlier allows attackers with administrator privileges to read and modify user alias and mailing list information for other domains hosted by the same server via the (1) aliasadmin or (2) listadm1 CGI programs, which do not properly verify that an administrator is the administrator for the target domain.
Ipswitch IMail versions 7.0.4 and earlier are vulnerable to a critical privilege escalation vulnerability, allowing attackers with administrator access to modify user aliases and mailing lists across all domains hosted on the server. This flaw stems from inadequate input validation in the aliasadmin and listadm1 CGI programs, enabling unauthorized access and control over sensitive user data. Successful exploitation can lead to account compromise, data breaches, and complete server takeover.
Step 1: Administrator Access: An attacker must first gain administrator-level access to the IMail server, either through legitimate means or by exploiting another vulnerability.
Step 2: CGI Program Targeting: The attacker identifies the vulnerable CGI programs, aliasadmin or listadm1.
Step 3: Crafting the Malicious Request: The attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request to either aliasadmin or listadm1. This request includes parameters designed to modify the alias or mailing list settings of a domain other than the one the administrator is authorized to manage.
Step 4: Bypassing Authorization: The CGI program fails to properly verify the administrator's authorization to modify the target domain's settings.
Step 5: Data Modification: The CGI program executes the attacker's request, modifying the user alias or mailing list information for the unauthorized domain.
Step 6: Impact: The attacker gains control over user accounts, mailing lists, or other sensitive data within the targeted domain, potentially leading to further exploitation.
The vulnerability lies within the aliasadmin and listadm1 CGI scripts of Ipswitch IMail. These scripts, designed for administrative tasks related to user aliases and mailing lists, fail to properly validate the domain context of an administrator. Specifically, the scripts do not verify that an administrator is authorized to manage the target domain before allowing them to modify its alias or mailing list settings. This lack of proper authorization check allows a malicious administrator to manipulate settings for other domains hosted on the same server, effectively granting them unauthorized access to user accounts, mailing lists, and potentially other sensitive information. The root cause is a missing or insufficient access control mechanism within the CGI scripts, leading to a privilege escalation scenario.