CVE-1999-1236 is a vulnerability found in Internet Anywhere Mail Server versions 2.3.1 and 3.1, where user passwords are stored in plaintext within the msgboxes.dbf file. This design flaw allows any local user with access to the server's file system to extract these plaintext passwords directly from the database file. Since the passwords are neither hashed nor encrypted, an attacker with local access can easily retrieve credentials and potentially escalate privileges or impersonate legitimate users. The vulnerability requires local access, meaning remote exploitation is not feasible without prior compromise. The CVSS score of 4.6 (medium severity) reflects the moderate risk posed by this vulnerability, considering the ease of password extraction but limited attack vector. No patches or fixes are available, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild, indicating this is a legacy issue that may still pose risks in environments running outdated software. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability since compromised credentials could lead to unauthorized access and manipulation of mail server data or services.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to internal mail servers if legacy versions of Internet Anywhere Mail Server are still in use. Exposure of plaintext passwords compromises user confidentiality and can facilitate lateral movement within networks, potentially leading to data breaches or disruption of email services. Organizations in sectors with strict data protection regulations, such as finance, healthcare, or government, may face compliance risks and reputational damage if such vulnerabilities are exploited. Although the vulnerability requires local access, insider threats or attackers who gain initial footholds could leverage this weakness to escalate privileges. Given the age of the vulnerability, it is less likely to affect modern deployments but remains a concern for legacy systems that have not been updated or replaced.

European organizations should first conduct an inventory to identify any instances of Internet Anywhere Mail Server versions 2.3.1 or 3.1 in their environment. Since no patches are available, the primary mitigation is to upgrade to a modern, supported mail server solution that follows current security best practices, including secure password storage (e.g., salted hashing). If upgrading is not immediately possible, restrict local file system access to trusted administrators only, enforce strict access controls on the msgboxes.dbf file, and monitor for unauthorized access attempts. Implement network segmentation to limit access to mail servers and deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect suspicious local activity. Additionally, enforce strong password policies and consider multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of credential compromise. Regularly audit user privileges and access logs to detect potential misuse.