Context IS Advisory - MS08-39 OWA XSS
===============================ADVISORY===============================
Systems Affected: Microsoft Outlook Web Access 2003 and 2007
(Exchange Server 2003 SP2, Exchange Server 2007,
Exchange Server 2007 SP1)
Severity: High
Category: Cross Site Scripting, Cross Site Request Forgery
Author: Context Information Security Ltd
Reported to vendor: 10th January 2008
Advisory Issued: 10th July 2008
===============================ADVISORY===============================
Description
-----------
Several Cross Site Scripting vulnerabilities were found in within Outlook Web
Access (OWA) 2003/2007. An attacker can craft a malicious email which will
trigger within a user's browser. Different version of OWA and different
clients (Light and Premium) have different attack vectors which can result in
an attacker gaining *persistent* control over a victim's use of Outlook Web
Access. An attacker would have full control and access to the victims e-mail
account. This control could be further abused by utilising techniques such as
JavaScript root-kits or web worms.
Analysis
--------
An attacker can craft a malicious email which contains the attack strings to
compromise an OWA client. The user would only need to view the email to be
victim to the XSS attack. Furthermore, persistent XSS can be gained by changing
certain values within OWA to a particular XSS attack string. This string
(consisting of HTML/JavaScript) is subsequently injected into *any* page which
uses this value, including "new email", "reply email" (for OWA 2003) and most
pages (for OWA 2007). Logging out of the application and back in will not
clear the attack. Furthermore, the attack can be propagated by using the
control over the OWA client to email the attack link to all users in the
victim's inbox/contacts.
At this point the attack would spread as a XSS worm (albeit one requiring the
user to view the incoming email). This could potentially affect all users of
the OWA application.
Technologies Affected
---------------------
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 SP1
Vendor Response
---------------
On 9th July 2008, Microsoft issued a security bulletin MS08-039 and an
associated patch for Exchange Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2007 SP1
Patches are available from:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms08-039.mspx
Context would recommend that these patches be installed as soon as practical to
all Exchange Servers providing OWA functionality.
CVE
---
This issue has been assigned CVE numbers CVE-2008-2247 and CVE-2008-2248.
Disclosure Timeline
-------------------
10 January 2008 - Initial Discovery and vendor notification.
14th January 2008 - Vendor response requesting further details.
14th March 2008 - Vendor response requesting PoC. PoC provided.
9th July 2008 - Vendor advisory release.
10th July 2008 - Context Information Security Ltd advisory release.
Credits
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Michael Jordon of Context Information Security Ltd
About Context Information Security
----------------------------------
Context Information Security Limited is a specialist information security
consultancy based in London and Frankfurt. Context promotes the holistic
approach to information security and helps clients to identify, assess and
control their exposure to risk within the fields of IT, telephony and physical
security. Context employs experienced information security professionals who
are subject-matter experts in their various technical specialism's. Context
works extensively within the finance, legal, defence and government sectors,
delivering high-end information security projects to organisations for which
security is a priority.
Web: www.contextis.co.uk
Email: disclosure@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx