CVE-2001-1283 in IMail
Summary
by MITRE
The webmail interface for Ipswitch IMail 7.04 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (crash) via a mailbox name that contains a large number of . (dot) or other characters to programs such as (1) readmail.cgi or (2) printmail.cgi, possibly due to a buffer overflow that may allow execution of arbitrary code.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1283 affects the webmail interface of Ipswitch IMail version 7.04 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote authenticated users to execute denial of service attacks against the system. This vulnerability specifically targets the readmail.cgi and printmail.cgi programs that are part of the webmail interface, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users who have already gained authentication credentials to the system. The flaw manifests when these programs process mailbox names containing an excessive number of dot characters or other special characters, leading to system instability and potential service interruption.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the webmail interface's processing routines. When the affected cgi programs receive mailbox names with excessive character sequences, particularly multiple consecutive dots or other special characters, they fail to properly sanitize or limit the input before processing. This lack of proper boundary checking creates conditions where buffer overflow scenarios can occur, as the programs attempt to store or process data that exceeds allocated memory buffers. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions that occur when insufficient space is allocated for input data, and potentially CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations that can result from improper bounds checking.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it represents a potential pathway for more severe exploitation. While the primary effect is system crash and service disruption, the buffer overflow conditions present in this flaw could potentially be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on the target system. This means that authenticated attackers could potentially escalate their privileges or gain unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability affects the core webmail functionality of IMail, which could compromise email communication services and potentially provide attackers with access to sensitive email data stored within the system. Attackers could exploit this by simply logging into the webmail interface with valid credentials and then submitting maliciously crafted mailbox names to trigger the buffer overflow conditions.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and denial of service. The requirement for authentication before exploitation means that attackers would need to obtain valid user credentials first, but once achieved, they could systematically target the vulnerable cgi programs to cause service disruption. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of command injection and input validation flaws that are commonly exploited in web application attacks. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of broader security assessments, particularly when evaluating legacy webmail systems that may have been deployed without proper security hardening. The impact is particularly concerning for email servers that rely on cgi-based interfaces for web access, as these systems often serve as critical communication infrastructure within enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the affected IMail versions to address the buffer overflow conditions in the readmail.cgi and printmail.cgi programs. Organizations should also implement input validation controls that limit the length and character set of mailbox names processed by these programs. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation by restricting access to the vulnerable webmail interface. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns in mailbox name processing that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of legacy webmail systems are essential to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of the email infrastructure. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper input validation and buffer management in web applications, particularly in systems that have been in production for extended periods without security updates.