CVE-2001-1132 in Mailman
Summary
by MITRE
Mailman 2.0.x before 2.0.6 allows remote attackers to gain access to list administrative pages when there is an empty site or list password, which is not properly handled during the call to the crypt function during authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-1132 affects Mailman versions 2.0.x prior to 2.0.6 and represents a critical authentication flaw that enables remote attackers to bypass administrative access controls. This issue stems from improper handling of empty passwords during the authentication process, specifically when the crypt function is invoked without adequate validation. The vulnerability occurs when either the site password or list password is left empty, creating a security loophole that undermines the entire authentication mechanism.
The technical flaw manifests in the cryptographic handling of empty password strings within the Mailman application's authentication subsystem. When an empty password is provided, the crypt function receives a null or empty string input, which can result in predictable cryptographic outputs or bypass the intended authentication checks entirely. This behavior creates a path for unauthorized users to gain administrative privileges without proper credentials, effectively compromising the security boundary between legitimate users and system administrators. The vulnerability operates at the authentication layer, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to assume administrative roles and potentially access sensitive configuration data, modify mailing list settings, or even gain access to user data.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations relying on Mailman for email list management. Attackers exploiting this flaw can gain full administrative access to mailing lists, potentially leading to message interception, unauthorized modifications to list configurations, spam distribution, or complete compromise of the mailing list infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the system or network, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations with public-facing mailing list services. The impact extends beyond individual lists to potentially affect entire site administrative capabilities, as the vulnerability could be exploited to gain access to multiple lists through a single successful attack.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-255, which addresses issues related to improper handling of credentials, and represents a classic example of insecure authentication mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1110.003, which covers credential access through brute force or credential reuse, and potentially T1078.002 for valid accounts usage. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Mailman 2.0.6 or later versions, ensuring all site and list passwords are properly configured with strong credentials, and implementing additional access controls such as IP restrictions or additional authentication layers. System administrators should also conduct thorough audits of existing Mailman installations to identify and remediate any instances where empty passwords may have been configured. Regular security assessments and monitoring of authentication logs should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure the continued integrity of mailing list systems.