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TI-2017-11478 Aliases CVE-2017-15705GHSA-m63q-qrvc-wwrm

Improper input validation in Apache SpamAssassin

Priority LOW 35CWE-20Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · Low
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 4 fixed, 2 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.

Summary

A denial of service vulnerability was identified that exists in Apache SpamAssassin before 3.4.2. The vulnerability arises with certain unclosed tags in emails that cause markup to be handled incorrectly leading to scan timeouts. In Apache SpamAssassin, using HTML::Parser, we setup an object and hook into the begin and end tag event handlers In both cases, the "open" event is immediately followed by a "close" event - even if the tag *does not* close in the HTML being parsed. Because of this, we are missing the "text" event to deal with the object normally. This can cause carefully crafted emails that might take more scan time than expected leading to a Denial of Service. The issue is possibly a bug or design decision in HTML::Parser that specifically impacts the way Apache SpamAssassin uses the module with poorly formed html. The exploit has been seen in the wild but not believed to have been purposefully part of a Denial of Service attempt. We are concerned that there may be attempts to abuse the vulnerability in the future.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.07879 94th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Apache SpamAssassin (Apache Software Foundation): 3.4.2Red Hat: 1 advisoryRed Hat: 4 fixed, 2 without a fix

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
ApacheApache SpamAssassinbefore 3.4.23.4.2Patch availableCNA
  • Apache SpamAssassin VendorApache Affected before 3.4.2 Fixed in 3.4.2 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 10

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:apache:spamassassin:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 3.4.2VulnerableApache
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:*12.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*14.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*16.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*18.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.0VulnerableDebian
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.5VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.0VulnerableRed Hat
  • cpe:2.3:a:apache:spamassassin:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 3.4.2 Vulnerable ·Apache
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 12.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 18.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.5 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Apache SpamAssassin (Apache Software Foundation) Fixed in 3.4.2

Red Hat 1 advisory

  • RHSA-2018:2916 Released 2018-10-11 · Red Hat rating Important
    spamassassin security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) spamassassin-3.4.0-4.el7_5
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) spamassassin-3.4.0-4.el7_5
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) spamassassin-3.4.0-4.el7_5
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) spamassassin-3.4.0-4.el7_5

Fixed in the same release

Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.

  • Advisory ·

    Apache SpamAssassin — USN-3811-1

    3 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 1 MEDIUM, 2 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2018-08437 A potential Remote Code Execution bug exists with the PDFInfo plugin in Apache SpamAssassin before 3.4.2.Priority MEDIUM 55
    • TI-2018-08438 Apache SpamAssassin 3.4.2 fixes a local user code injection in the meta rule syntax.Priority LOW 36
    Show all 3 records → Advisory →
  • Advisory ·

    Apache SpamAssassin — RHSA-2018:2916

    2 records Highest priority Priority LOW 2 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2018-08438 Apache SpamAssassin 3.4.2 fixes a local user code injection in the meta rule syntax.Priority LOW 36
    Show all 2 records → Advisory →

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2018:2916
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2018:2916
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2018:2916
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2018:2916
Not affected: 1 product
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2017-15705
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-m63q-qrvc-wwrm

References

Advisory 6

Other 1

  • TI-2006-02383 SpamAssassin before 3.1.3, when running with vpopmail and the paranoid (-P) switch… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 5.1
  • TI-2018-08437 A potential Remote Code Execution bug exists with the PDFInfo plugin in Apache SpamAssassin before 3.4.2. CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2020-01870 Apache SpamAssassin has an OS Command Injection vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2020-01855 OS command injection in Apache SpamAssassin CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
  • TI-2020-01854 OS command injection in Apache SpamAssassin CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
  • TI-2019-09265 Uncontrolled resource consumption in Apache SpamAssassin CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
See all 12 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences