CVE-2000-1047 in Domino Enterprise Server
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in SMTP service of Lotus Domino 5.0.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary commands via a long ENVID keyword in the "MAIL FROM" command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-1047 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol service of IBM Lotus Domino versions 5.0.4 and earlier. This weakness specifically manifests when processing the ENVID keyword within the MAIL FROM command during SMTP communication, creating a scenario where remote attackers can exploit the system through malformed input sequences. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack and demonstrates a classic buffer overflow pattern that has been documented in numerous security advisories and vulnerability assessments throughout the history of network security.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when the SMTP service receives a malformed MAIL FROM command containing an excessively long ENVID parameter value. The Lotus Domino server fails to properly validate the length of this parameter before copying it into a fixed-size buffer, leading to memory corruption that can result in application crashes or potentially allow for code execution. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The buffer overflow creates an opportunity for attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially manipulating program execution flow and gaining unauthorized access to system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass potential remote code execution capabilities, making it particularly dangerous for email server environments. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability can cause the Domino SMTP service to crash, resulting in service disruption and potential data loss. However, the more severe implications involve the possibility of attackers injecting and executing arbitrary code on the target system, which could lead to complete system compromise. This risk is elevated in environments where Domino servers handle sensitive email traffic and where the service runs with elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects organizations using older versions of Lotus Domino that have not received appropriate security patches or updates from IBM.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-1047 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Lotus Domino installations to the latest available security updates from IBM. Organizations must also implement network-level protections such as SMTP filtering rules that limit the length of ENVID parameters or reject suspicious MAIL FROM commands altogether. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of vulnerable SMTP services to untrusted networks. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns in SMTP traffic that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1203 technique for legitimate credentials and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, indicating that exploitation could involve both service disruption and post-exploitation activities. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar buffer overflow conditions in other network services and applications that may present comparable security risks.