iDEFENSE Security Advisory 11.19.02b: Eudora Script Execution Vulnerability (fwd)

[Joseph C. Bautista -mrlynx-]

Just thought of bringing this issue to everyone's attention...

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 18:07:24 -0500
From: David Endler <dendler at idefense.com>
To: bugtraq at securityfocus.com
Subject: iDEFENSE Security Advisory 11.19.02b: Eudora Script Execution
    Vulnerability

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iDEFENSE Security Advisory 11.19.02b:
http://www.idefense.com/advisory/11.19.02b.txt
Eudora Script Execution Vulnerability
November 19, 2002

I. BACKGROUND

Qualcomm Inc.'s Eudora is a graphical e-mail client for Windows and
Macintosh. More information about it is available at
http://www.eudora.com .

II. DESCRIPTION

Remote exploitation of a weakness in Eudora could allow for the
potential retrieval of sensitive information from a targeted Eudora
user's computer.

Eudora saves e-mail attachments in a predictable location. 
Exploitation works as such: an attacker sends an e-mail to a Eudora
user that directs him to a specific URL; the e-mail also contains an
HTML-enabled e-mail attachment that contains scripting code. If the
user is socially engineered into clicking on the link, then a frames
page can load the attachment in one of its frames. The attachment can
then retrieve (within the security settings of the local zone) the
content of any local file, and transmit it back to the attacker. The
attack script, in turn, can retrieve the contents of any local file
and transmit it back to the attacker. Since the issue is simple to
exploit, and the issue has still not been addressed, a sample attack
script is not included in this advisory.

III. ANALYSIS

Exploitation could lead to further compromise if the attacker is able
to retrieve sensitive files such as the Windows SAM table. It is also
possible for the attacker to obtain other confidential information. 
A secure implementation would involve using a random string within
the directory structure to prevent this class of attacks (e.g.
Mozilla e-mail client, etc.).

IV. DETECTION

Eudora 5.1.1 and 5.2 are confirmed to be vulnerable; other versions
may be affected as well.

To determine susceptibility, send an e-mail with an attachment to a
test Eudora user. Check if Eudora stores it in the C:\Program
Files\Qualcomm\Eudora\attach\ directory (assuming a default
installation). 

V. WORKAROUND

Change the default location where Eudora stores e-mail attachments.

VI. VENDOR RESPONSE

A Eudora Tech Support Specialist provided the following response
(from head Eudora developer):

"In rare circumstances, certain ill-formatted MIME boundaries can
cause Eudora to crash. It is exceedingly unlikely that this problem
could be exploited to undermine security. The problem will be fixed
in the next release of Eudora."

[iDEFENSE note: The response does not address the security
implications of this advisory. Two attempts were made to change or
clarify Qualcomm's response; all to no avail.]

VII. CVE INFORMATION

The Mitre Corp.'s Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) Project
assigned the identification number CAN-2002-1210 to this issue.

VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE

09/12/2002      Issue disclosed to iDEFENSE
10/14/2002      Qualcomm notified (eudora-custserv at eudora.com)
10/14/2002      iDEFENSE clients notified
10/15/2002      Autoresponse recieved
10/31/2002      Second attempt at contact 
11/07/2002      Third attempt at contact
11/08/2002      Vendor response from J. Michael L. (mlreply at qualcomm.com)
11/10/2002      Clarification request of Vendor Response from iDEFENSE
11/11/2002      Same response from J. Michael L. (mlreply at qualcomm.com)
11/12/2002      Second clarification request of Vendor Response from
iDEFENSE
11/19/2002      Still no reply for vendor clarification of response
11/19/2002      Public disclosure

IX. CREDIT

Bennett Haselton (bennett at peacefire.org) discovered this
vulnerability.



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- -dave

David Endler, CISSP
Director, Technical Intelligence
iDEFENSE, Inc.
14151 Newbrook Drive
Suite 100
Chantilly, VA 20151
voice: 703-344-2632
fax: 703-961-1071

dendler at idefense.com
www.idefense.com

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