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TI-2023-11637 Aliases CVE-2023-26490

mailcow is vulnerable to shell command injection via xoauth2 authentication in imapsync​

Priority MEDIUM 48CWE-78Published · Updated

Key facts

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

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-78.

Summary

mailcow is a dockerized email package, with multiple containers linked in one bridged network. The Sync Job feature - which can be made available to standard users by assigning them the necessary permission - suffers from a shell command injection. A malicious user can abuse this vulnerability to obtain shell access to the Docker container running dovecot. The imapsync Perl script implements all the necessary functionality for this feature, including the XOAUTH2 authentication mechanism. This code path creates a shell command to call openssl. However, since different parts of the specified user password are included without any validation, one can simply execute additional shell commands. Notably, the default ACL for a newly-created mailcow account does not include the necessary permission. The Issue has been fixed within the 2023-03 Update (March 3rd 2023). As a temporary workaround the Syncjob ACL can be removed from all mailbox users, preventing from creating or changing existing Syncjobs.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.0222 82nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed mailcow-dockerized (mailcow): 2023-03

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
Yes
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
mailcowmailcow-dockerizedbefore 2023-032023-03Patch availableCNA
  • mailcow-dockerized Vendormailcow Affected before 2023-03 Fixed in 2023-03 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:mailcow:mailcow\:_dockerized:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*_dockerizedVulnerablemailcow
  • cpe:2.3:a:mailcow:mailcow\:_dockerized:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions _dockerized Vulnerable ·mailcow

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA mailcow-dockerized (mailcow) Fixed in 2023-03

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-26490

References

  • TI-2022-13182 OS Command Injection in mailcow CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2022-18634 mailcow-dockerized critical information misrepresentation can lead to phishing attacks through Swagger UI CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.2
  • TI-2024-15818 mailcow ipixel flood attack leads to Denial of Service in admin page CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 4.7
  • TI-2024-20015 mailcow Path Traversal and Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.2
  • TI-2022-13278 mailcow before 2022-05d allows a remote authenticated user to inject OS commands and… CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2024-16277 Mailcow Docker Container Exposure to Local Network CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
See all 15 →

Sources

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