The expand function in fio.c in Heirloom mailx 12.5 and earlier and BSD mailx 8.1.2 and…
Priority MEDIUM 43CWE-20Published · 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
- Partial · Partial · Partial
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 8 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The expand function in fio.c in Heirloom mailx 12.5 and earlier and BSD mailx 8.1.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in an email address.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.06858 94th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Partial Red Hat: 1 advisoryRed Hat: 8 fixed, 1 without a fix
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 · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:oracle:linux:6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6 | Vulnerable | Oracle |
| cpe:2.3:o:oracle:linux:7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7 | Vulnerable | Oracle |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:a:bsd_mailx_project:bsd_mailx:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 8.1.2 | Vulnerable | Bsd Mailx Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:heirloom:mailx:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 12.5 | Vulnerable | Heirloom |
- cpe:2.3:o:oracle:linux:6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6 Vulnerable ·Oracle
- cpe:2.3:o:oracle:linux:7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7 Vulnerable ·Oracle
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:a:bsd_mailx_project:bsd_mailx:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 8.1.2 Vulnerable ·Bsd Mailx Project
- cpe:2.3:a:heirloom:mailx:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 12.5 Vulnerable ·Heirloom
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2014:1999 Released 2014-12-16 · Red Hat rating Moderatemailx security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) mailx-12.5-12.el7_0
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) mailx-12.5-12.el7_0
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) mailx-12.4-8.el6_6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) mailx-12.4-8.el6_6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) mailx-12.4-8.el6_6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) mailx-12.5-12.el7_0
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) mailx-12.4-8.el6_6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) mailx-12.5-12.el7_0
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2014:1999 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2014:1999 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2014:1999 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2014:1999 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2014:1999 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2014:1999 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2014:1999 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2014:1999 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2004-2771
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-3f68-9fxg-g2j6
References
Sources
- CVE-2004-2771 · CVE Program
- CVE-2004-2771 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-3f68-9fxg-g2j6 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2004-2771 · 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