CVE-2024-37383 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in Roundcube Webmail, a widely used open-source webmail client. The flaw exists in versions before 1.5.7 and 1.6.x before 1.6.7, where SVG animate attributes are not properly sanitized. SVG animate elements can contain scriptable attributes that, if not correctly filtered, allow attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code. When a user views a crafted email or content containing malicious SVG animate tags, the embedded script executes in the context of the victim's browser session. This can lead to theft of session cookies, enabling session hijacking, or manipulation of the webmail interface to steal sensitive information or perform actions on behalf of the user. The vulnerability requires no authentication but does require user interaction, such as opening or previewing a malicious email. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.1, indicating a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction needed, and a scope change affecting confidentiality and integrity but not availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild at the time of publication, but the vulnerability poses a credible risk given Roundcube's widespread use in enterprise and hosting environments.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to email accounts, exposing sensitive communications and potentially enabling further lateral movement within networks. Compromise of webmail sessions can facilitate phishing campaigns, data exfiltration, and impersonation attacks. Organizations relying on Roundcube for internal or customer-facing email services may face reputational damage and regulatory consequences under GDPR if personal data is exposed. The attack vector being remote and requiring only user interaction increases the risk, particularly in environments with high email volumes and less stringent email content filtering. The impact is primarily on confidentiality and integrity, with no direct availability impact. However, successful exploitation could indirectly disrupt operations through compromised accounts and subsequent attacks.

1. Immediately upgrade Roundcube Webmail to version 1.5.7 or 1.6.7 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. 2. Implement strict input validation and sanitization for all SVG content, especially animate attributes, to prevent script injection. 3. Deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) headers restricting script execution sources to reduce the impact of potential XSS. 4. Configure email gateways and webmail filters to detect and block emails containing suspicious SVG content or scripts. 5. Educate users about the risks of opening unexpected or suspicious emails and encourage cautious interaction with email content. 6. Monitor webmail logs for unusual activity indicative of session hijacking or unauthorized access. 7. Consider implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for webmail access to mitigate session compromise risks.