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TI-2021-17306 Aliases CVE-2021-40111GHSA-fqgw-6qj5-8hmp

Apache James IMAP parsing Denial Of Service

Priority LOW 33CWE-835Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Denial of service
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-835.

Summary

In Apache James, while fuzzing with Jazzer the IMAP parsing stack, we discover that crafted APPEND and STATUS IMAP command could be used to trigger infinite loops resulting in expensive CPU computations and OutOfMemory exceptions. This can be used for a Denial Of Service attack. The IMAP user needs to be authenticated to exploit this vulnerability. This affected Apache James prior to version 3.6.1. This vulnerability had been patched in Apache James 3.6.1 and higher. We recommend the upgrade.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.02192 82nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed org.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 – 3.6.0—No fix listedCNA
—org.apache.james:james-server (Maven)before 3.6.13.6.1Patch availableGHSA-fqgw-6qj5-8hmp
  • Apache James VendorApache Affected Apache James – 3.6.0 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
  • org.apache.james:james-server (Maven) Vendor— Affected before 3.6.1 Fixed in 3.6.1 Patch available GHSA-fqgw-6qj5-8hmp

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 · GHSA-fqgw-6qj5-8hmp org.apache.james:james-server (Maven) Fixed in 3.6.1 Advisory →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-40111
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-fqgw-6qj5-8hmp

References

Advisory 3

  • 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