The address parser code in Postfix 1.1.12 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a…
Priority MEDIUM 42Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · Partial
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The address parser code in Postfix 1.1.12 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (lock) via (1) a malformed envelope address to a local host that would generate a bounce and contains the ".!" string in the MAIL FROM or Errors-To headers, which causes nqmgr to lock up, or (2) via a valid MAIL FROM with a RCPT TO containing a ".!" string, which causes an instance of the SMTP listener to lock up.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.21261 97th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed 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 · 9
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:wietse_venema:postfix:1.0.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.0.21 | Vulnerable | Wietse Venema |
| cpe:2.3:a:wietse_venema:postfix:1.1.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.1.11 | Vulnerable | Wietse Venema |
| cpe:2.3:a:wietse_venema:postfix:1.1.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.1.12 | Vulnerable | Wietse Venema |
| cpe:2.3:a:wietse_venema:postfix:1999-09-06:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1999-09-06 | Vulnerable | Wietse Venema |
| cpe:2.3:a:wietse_venema:postfix:1999-12-31:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1999-12-31 | Vulnerable | Wietse Venema |
| cpe:2.3:a:wietse_venema:postfix:2000-02-28:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2000-02-28 | Vulnerable | Wietse Venema |
| cpe:2.3:a:wietse_venema:postfix:2001-11-15:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2001-11-15 | Vulnerable | Wietse Venema |
| cpe:2.3:o:conectiva:linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Conectiva |
| cpe:2.3:o:conectiva:linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Conectiva |
- cpe:2.3:a:wietse_venema:postfix:1.0.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0.21 Vulnerable ·Wietse Venema
- cpe:2.3:a:wietse_venema:postfix:1.1.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.1.11 Vulnerable ·Wietse Venema
- cpe:2.3:a:wietse_venema:postfix:1.1.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.1.12 Vulnerable ·Wietse Venema
- cpe:2.3:a:wietse_venema:postfix:1999-09-06:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1999-09-06 Vulnerable ·Wietse Venema
- cpe:2.3:a:wietse_venema:postfix:1999-12-31:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1999-12-31 Vulnerable ·Wietse Venema
- cpe:2.3:a:wietse_venema:postfix:2000-02-28:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2000-02-28 Vulnerable ·Wietse Venema
- cpe:2.3:a:wietse_venema:postfix:2001-11-15:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2001-11-15 Vulnerable ·Wietse Venema
- cpe:2.3:o:conectiva:linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Conectiva
- cpe:2.3:o:conectiva:linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Conectiva
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Linux 7.3 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:251 |
| Red Hat Linux 8.0 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:251 |
| Red Hat Linux 9 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:251 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2003-0540
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-cgrr-3rc7-3h4r
References
Sources
- CVE-2003-0540 · CVE Program
- CVE-2003-0540 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-cgrr-3rc7-3h4r · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2003-0540 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences