Fix: Email Inbox Password Needs Minimum Length Validation

Hey everyone,

I've discovered a security vulnerability in Rocket.Chat's Email Inbox settings that I wanted to bring to your attention. The password fields for both SMTP and IMAP configurations currently lack minimum length validation. This means admins can set ridiculously short passwords, even a single character, which obviously isn't ideal from a security standpoint.

The Problem: Silent Failure

What makes this particularly nasty is that the form appears to save successfully. You get a confirmation message, but behind the scenes, you've created a weak point in your email setup. This "silent failure" could easily lead to misconfigurations and potential security breaches. Ensuring strong passwords is a basic security principle, and the absence of a minimum length check is a significant oversight. This lack of validation is a critical issue because it can lead to weak credentials being used for accessing email inboxes, potentially exposing sensitive information. A robust password policy is essential for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of communication channels.

Without proper validation, administrators might inadvertently set passwords that are easily compromised, leading to unauthorized access and data breaches. It's imperative to enforce a minimum password length to mitigate this risk and ensure that all email accounts are protected by strong, secure credentials. This not only safeguards sensitive information but also enhances the overall security posture of the Rocket.Chat platform. This issue highlights the importance of thorough validation checks on all user inputs, especially those related to security-sensitive configurations like email passwords. By implementing a minimum length requirement, Rocket.Chat can significantly reduce the likelihood of weak passwords being used and improve the overall security of email communications.

Steps to Reproduce

Here’s how you can easily see the problem:

1. Go to Administration > Email Inbox.
2. Click New to create a new inbox.
3. Fill in all the required fields (like Server: mail.example.com, Port: 993, Username: test).
4. In the **Password *** field (for either SMTP or IMAP), type a single character, like "k" or "1".
5. Click Save.

What Should Happen (Expected Behavior)

The form shouldn't save! An error notification should pop up right under the password field, telling you something like, "Password must be at least 6 characters long."

What Actually Happens (Actual Behavior)

The form saves without a peep. No error message, no warning – nothing. It just accepts that ridiculously short password.

Server Setup Details

• Version of Rocket.Chat Server: develop (local development)
• License Type: community
• Number of Users: 1
• Operating System: windows
• NodeJS Version: 22.16.0
• MongoDB Version: 6.10.0

Client Setup Information

• Desktop App or Browser Version: Chrome (latest)
• Operating System: Windows

Why This Matters (Additional Context)

This seems to be an issue spanning both the front-end and back-end:

• Backend: The API schema in apps/meteor/server/api/v1/email-inbox.ts is missing the minLength: 8 property on the smtp.password and imap.password fields. Without this validation, the server doesn't enforce any minimum length on the password. This is a critical oversight that allows weak passwords to be saved, potentially compromising the security of email communications. Implementing this validation is crucial to ensure that all passwords meet a minimum security standard. The backend validation acts as the first line of defense against weak passwords, preventing them from being stored in the system. By enforcing a minimum length requirement, Rocket.Chat can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.

• Frontend: The form (EmailInboxForm.tsx) is missing the rules={{ minLength: ... }} prop in the <Controller> for the password fields. The front-end validation is equally important because it provides immediate feedback to the user, preventing them from submitting a form with a weak password. By adding the minLength rule, the form can display an error message in real-time, guiding the user to create a stronger password. This not only improves the user experience but also reinforces the importance of password security. The combination of front-end and back-end validation ensures a comprehensive approach to password security, minimizing the risk of weak credentials being used.

Fixing this would not only improve security but also save admins from a lot of potential headaches and confusion down the road.

Logs

No errors are generated in the console or server logs. The bug is the absence of a validation error.

Proposed Solution

To address this issue, I recommend implementing the following changes:

1. Backend Validation:

   • Modify the API schema in apps/meteor/server/api/v1/email-inbox.ts to include the minLength: 8 property for both smtp.password and imap.password fields. This will enforce a minimum password length on the server-side, preventing weak passwords from being saved. The updated schema should look something like this:

   smtp: {
   password: {
   type: String,
   minLength: 8,
   },
   },
   imap: {
   password: {
   type: String,
   minLength: 8,
   },
   }
   

2. Frontend Validation:

   • Update the EmailInboxForm.tsx to include the rules={{ minLength: 8 }} prop in the <Controller> for the password fields. This will provide real-time feedback to the user, ensuring they create a password that meets the minimum length requirement. The updated component should look something like this:

   <Controller
   name="smtp.password"
   control={control}
   rules={{ minLength: 8 }}
   render={({ field }) => (
   <Input
   type="password"
   placeholder={t('SMTP Password')}
   {...field}
   />
   )}
   />
   

By implementing these changes, Rocket.Chat can ensure that all email inbox passwords meet a minimum security standard, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches. These measures are crucial for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of email communications within the platform.

Additional Considerations

Password Complexity

In addition to minimum length, consider implementing password complexity requirements, such as requiring a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. This will further enhance the security of email passwords and make them more resistant to cracking. Password complexity requirements can be enforced through both backend and frontend validation, providing a comprehensive approach to password security.

Password Strength Meter

Integrate a password strength meter into the Email Inbox form to provide users with real-time feedback on the strength of their passwords. This will help users create stronger passwords and improve the overall security of email communications. A password strength meter can be implemented using a third-party library or a custom algorithm.

Password Hashing

Ensure that all email passwords are securely hashed using a strong hashing algorithm such as bcrypt or Argon2. This will prevent passwords from being stored in plain text and protect them in the event of a data breach. Password hashing should be implemented on the server-side to ensure that passwords are never exposed in plain text.

Regular Security Audits

Conduct regular security audits of the Rocket.Chat platform to identify and address potential security vulnerabilities. This will help ensure that the platform remains secure and that all security measures are up-to-date. Security audits should be performed by qualified security professionals.

By implementing these additional considerations, Rocket.Chat can further enhance the security of email communications and protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.