CVE-2000-0284 in imapd
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in University of Washington imapd version 4.7 allows users with a valid account to execute commands via LIST or other commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0284 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in the University of Washington IMAP daemon version 4.7 that resides within the widely deployed internet message access protocol implementation. This security weakness affects the authentication and command processing mechanisms of the IMAP server, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through legitimate user accounts. The vulnerability specifically manifests during the processing of LIST commands and other similar operations within the IMAP protocol stack, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to overflow buffer structures and potentially execute arbitrary code on the target system. The flaw demonstrates a classic buffer overflow pattern that aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions that occur when insufficient bounds checking is performed on memory allocations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the IMAP daemon's handling of user input parameters during command execution, particularly when processing mailbox listing operations. Attackers with valid user credentials can craft specially formatted LIST commands that exceed the allocated buffer space, causing memory corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite critical program execution structures. This overflow allows for arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the IMAP daemon process, which typically runs with elevated system permissions. The exploitation process follows established patterns described in the attack technique framework, specifically aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage, where the overflow enables attackers to inject and execute malicious commands within the compromised system environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with persistent access to mail servers that often contain sensitive corporate or personal communications. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only valid account credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user access controls are not properly enforced. Organizations running the affected IMAP daemon version face significant risk of unauthorized data access, potential system compromise, and possible lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software versions means that numerous systems across different organizations could be simultaneously vulnerable, creating a substantial attack surface that security teams must address urgently. The exploitation of this flaw could result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and disruption of email services that many organizations depend upon for critical business operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-0284 require immediate patching of the University of Washington IMAP daemon to the latest secure version that addresses the buffer overflow condition. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of IMAP services to untrusted networks, while also enforcing strict authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized account access. The implementation of intrusion detection systems can help identify suspicious command patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security audits should verify that all IMAP services are running patched versions. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring to detect anomalous LIST command usage patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing proper input validation practices in network services. Security teams should also establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle buffer overflow exploitation attempts, ensuring rapid detection and containment of any potential compromise. The long-term solution involves comprehensive security awareness training for system administrators and regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other network services.