# CVE-2024-42009: Roundcube Webmail XSS in message_body function

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-42009-roundcube-webmail-xss-in-message-body-function  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2025-06-09. Updated: 2026-05-15  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2024-42009 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.3 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2025-06-09

Roundcube Webmail, a widely used open-source email platform, contains a critical security flaw that allows attackers to compromise user accounts. By sending a specially crafted email, an attacker can gain the ability to read a victim's private messages or send unauthorized emails from their account. This vulnerability has been observed being used in active attacks, posing a significant risk to organizational communication and data privacy.

Technologies: [Roundcube Webmail](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/webmail). Vendors: [Roundcube](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/roundcube).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2024-42009 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2024-42009 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 9 June 2025. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2024-42009?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.3, published 9 June 2025.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Roundcube Webmail Through 1.5.7, and 1.6.x through 1.6.7.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2024-42009?** A patch was published on 2024-08-04: Vendor released versions 1.5.8 and 1.6.8 to address the issue. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2024-42009 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2024-42009?** Check whether you run Roundcube Webmail at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists in Roundcube Webmail due to a desanitization issue within the message_body() function in program/actions/mail/show.php. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this by sending a malicious email that, when viewed by a victim, executes arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the victim's browser session. This can lead to full session hijacking, allowing the attacker to read, delete, or send emails as the victim. The vulnerability affects versions through 1.5.7 and 1.6.x through 1.6.7, and has been added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Patches are available in versions 1.5.8 and 1.6.8.

## Affected products

- Roundcube Webmail Through 1.5.7, and 1.6.x through 1.6.7

## Timeline

- 2024-08-04: patched: Vendor released versions 1.5.8 and 1.6.8 to address the issue.
- 2024-08-05: disclosed: Initial CVE publication.
- 2025-06-09: kev added: CISA added the vulnerability to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

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