segunakinsoyinu/CVE-2024-42009-roundcube-xss

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PoC files

4 files

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GitHub
Analysisdeepseek-v4-pro:cloud ·

Technical assessment

The artifact is a functional exploit for CVE-2024-42009, a stored XSS vulnerability in Roundcube Webmail. It includes a Python script (exploit.py) that constructs a malicious HTML email containing a CSS animation-based XSS payload and delivers it via unauthenticated SMTP. The payload, upon the victim opening the email, exfiltrates the victim's entire inbox to an attacker-controlled HTTP listener (listener.py, not included in the text evidence but described).

Backdoor review

No backdoor observed in reviewed code

The supplied evidence consists of a README and an exploit script for CVE-2024-42009, a stored XSS vulnerability in Roundcube. The exploit script constructs a malicious HTML email body containing a CSS animation-based XSS payload that exfiltrates the victim's inbox to an attacker-controlled HTTP listener. The behavior is consistent with the described vulnerability and does not exhibit any concealed, deceptive, or unrelated backdoor functionality targeting the person running the PoC.

ClassificationExploit
Model confidence98%
AuthenticationNot required
LanguagesPythonHTMLJavaScript
Target softwareRoundcube Webmail
Attack typesStored XSSData Exfiltration
Evidence & reasoningClassification basis · observed behavior · safety review
Technical evidence

Classification basis and observed behavior

Classification basis

The artifact contains a complete, executable script (exploit.py) that actively delivers a malicious payload to exploit a vulnerability, as opposed to merely detecting it. The script's primary function is to construct and send an XSS payload to exfiltrate data, which is the definition of an exploit.

exploit.py:1-99README.md:1

Requirements

  • Target must be running Roundcube Webmail version ≤ 1.6.6.README.md:13
  • Target SMTP server must allow unauthenticated relay on port 25.README.md:67
  • Attacker must run an HTTP listener to receive exfiltrated data.README.md:73-77

Observed behavior

  • Constructs an HTML email body with a malformed <body> tag containing a CSS animation event handler (onanimationstart) that executes a base64-encoded JavaScript payload.exploit.py:52-55
  • Connects to a target SMTP server on port 25 and sends the crafted email without authentication.exploit.py:68-72
  • The JavaScript payload, when executed in the victim's browser, iterates through inbox UIDs, fetches each email's content via Roundcube's internal API, and sends the collected data as a JSON POST request to an attacker-controlled server.exploit.py:39-48
Safety-review evidence

Behaviors behind the backdoor verdict

Observables

Exfiltration Endpoint
http://{lhost}:{lport}/The JavaScript payload in the exploit sends exfiltrated email data to an attacker-specified HTTP listener. This is the intended exploit behavior for CVE-2024-42009 and is not a backdoor against the PoC operator.exploit.py:45-47
Payload Obfuscation
base64 encoding of JavaScript payloadThe exploit script base64-encodes the JavaScript payload before embedding it in the HTML email. This is a standard technique to avoid character escaping issues in the injection vector and does not constitute concealment of backdoor behavior.exploit.py:50
Review boundaries

What the analysis did not establish

  • The evidence packet does not include the content of listener.py, which is described as a required component for the full attack chain.
  • The evidence packet does not include the content of payload.html, which is described as a standalone payload file.
  • The analysis is based solely on the provided source code and documentation; the code was not executed, and its effectiveness is not verified.
  • Two files from the repository (listener.py and payload.html) were not included in the text evidence. Their content was not reviewed, but the README describes them as a CORS-capable HTTP server and a standalone XSS payload, respectively, which is consistent with the exploit's stated purpose.
Model interpretation

This review is limited to the supplied PoC code and context. It does not assert that the code works or is safe to execute.

Linked vulnerabilities

1