CVE-2024-21725 is a critical vulnerability that affects different web and email components. Located in how mail addresses are not being adequately escaped, it exposes the system to potential Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks. XSS attacks can allow an attacker to inject their own malicious script into a victim's browser or perform actions on behalf of the victim, compromising their data privacy and security.
In this post, we will delve deep into the details of this security flaw, discussing its exploit, consequences, and providing code snippets and reference links to help developers understand the issue better. Our aim is to supply information that will lead to more secure web and email applications.
Overview: Insufficient Escaping of Mail Addresses
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the way the software handles and escapes mail addresses. Escaping is a well-known concept in computer programming that ensures any special characters within a string are represented in a format that does not cause them to be interpreted as code or commands.
For example, let us assume an email address is as follows
john.doe@example.com
However, attackers with malicious intent can create specially crafted email addresses like the following:
john.doe<script>alert('XSS!')</script>@example.com
When such an address's escaping is improperly implemented, the embedded script will be executed when viewed or loaded in a user's browser, leading to a possible XSS exploit.
Exploit Details
An attacker can take advantage of the inadequate escaping by inserting malicious scripts into mail addresses in either the 'From,' 'To,' 'Cc,' or 'Bcc' fields. This leaves room for a wide range of possible attacks, including stealing cookies, redirecting users, or even causing an application to malfunction.
Here's an example of a malicious snippet embedded into a mail address
"From": [{ "name": "","email": "attacker<script>alert('XSS!')</script>@evil.com" }]
When the address is sent to a victim and opened, the following code will execute in their browsers
alert('XSS!');
In more sophisticated attacks, the code could access sensitive information or perform malicious actions on the victim's behalf.
Original References and Acknowledgements
This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-21725, was reported by the cybersecurity community and is now being tracked in several online security databases. Below are some noteworthy references:
- The CVE Program's official entry for CVE-2024-21725
- National Vulnerability Database (NIST) entry for CVE-2024-21725
Moving Forward: How to Prevent This Vulnerability
To avoid falling prey to this security flaw, developers must provide sufficient escaping for mail addresses across their applications. A proper escaping mechanism should detect and filter scripted payloads in the email addresses. Here's an example:
function escapeEmail(email) {
return email.replace(/<script>/g, '<script>');
}
By ensuring adequate escaping of email addresses, you reduce the risk of XSS attacks.
Conclusion
CVE-2024-21725 highlights the need for vigilance and strict adherence to security practices when handling user input, especially in email address fields. Developers must take the necessary steps to safeguard their software from potential security threats. Remember, a secure application is a reliable application. Keep updated on new vulnerabilities, share information, and help make the web a safer place for everyone.
Timeline
Published on: 02/29/2024 01:44:03 UTC
Last modified on: 02/29/2024 13:49:29 UTC