In older versions of Sendmail, an attacker could use a pipe character to execute root commands.
Priority LOW 32Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Complete · Complete · Complete
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
In older versions of Sendmail, an attacker could use a pipe character to execute root commands.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00437 38th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:eric_allman:sendmail:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Vulnerable | Eric Allman |
- cpe:2.3:a:eric_allman:sendmail:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Vulnerable ·Eric Allman
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-1999-0163
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-v7v4-vj4g-88wh
References
More Eric Allman Sendmail vulnerabilities
- TI-1999-00094 The debug command in Sendmail is enabled, allowing attackers to execute commands as root. CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-1999-00201 Sendmail 8.6.9 allows remote attackers to execute root commands, using ident. CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-1999-00046 MIME conversion buffer overflow in sendmail versions 8.8.3 and 8.8.4. CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-1999-00203 MIME buffer overflow in Sendmail 8.8.0 and 8.8.1 gives root access. CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-1999-00200 In Sendmail, attackers can gain root privileges via SMTP by specifying an improper "mail… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-1999-00143 Sendmail WIZ command enabled, allowing root access. CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.2
Sources
- CVE-1999-0163 · CVE Program
- CVE-1999-0163 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-v7v4-vj4g-88wh · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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