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TI-2021-16141 Aliases CVE-2021-38542GHSA-84wg-rgp8-2hg4

Apache James vulnerable to STARTTLS command injection (IMAP and POP3)

Priority LOW 31CWE-77Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
High
Impact type
Code execution, Information disclosure
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · None · None
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-77 and CWE-327.

Summary

Apache James prior to release 3.6.1 is vulnerable to a buffering attack relying on the use of the STARTTLS command. This can result in Man-in -the-middle command injection attacks, leading potentially to leakage of sensible information.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.02347 83rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Apache James (Apache Software Foundation): 3.6.1org.apache.james:james-server (Maven): 3.6.1

SSVC decision points

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

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
ApacheApache JamesApache James to before 3.6.13.6.1Patch availableCNA
—org.apache.james:james-server (Maven)before 3.6.13.6.1Patch availableGHSA-84wg-rgp8-2hg4
  • Apache James VendorApache Affected Apache James to before 3.6.1 Fixed in 3.6.1 Patch available CNA
  • org.apache.james:james-server (Maven) Vendor— Affected before 3.6.1 Fixed in 3.6.1 Patch available GHSA-84wg-rgp8-2hg4

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:apache:james:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 3.6.1VulnerableApache
  • cpe:2.3:a:apache:james:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 3.6.1 Vulnerable ·Apache

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Apache James (Apache Software Foundation) Fixed in 3.6.1
  • Fix · GHSA-84wg-rgp8-2hg4 org.apache.james:james-server (Maven) Fixed in 3.6.1 Advisory →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-38542
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-84wg-rgp8-2hg4

References

Advisory 4

  • TI-2019-00201 XML external entity injection in Apache PDFBox CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2023-28170 Apache James server: Privilege escalation via JMX pre-authentication deserialisation CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2021-17565 Sieve file storage vulnerable to path traversal attacks CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
  • TI-2006-02714 The SMTP server in Apache Java Mail Enterprise Server (aka Apache James) 2.2.0 allows… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2021-17305 Apache James IMAP vulnerable to a ReDoS CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2023-11431 Apache James server: Privilege escalation through unauthenticated JMX CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
See all 13 →

Sources

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