CVE-2002-0379 in uw-imap
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in University of Washington imap server (uw-imapd) imap-2001 (imapd 2001.315) and imap-2001a (imapd 2001.315) with legacy RFC 1730 support, and imapd 2000.287 and earlier, allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via a long BODY request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0379 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the University of Washington IMAP server implementation, specifically affecting versions up to and including imapd 2001.315 and earlier releases. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the server's handling of BODY requests, which are part of the standard IMAP protocol for retrieving message parts. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that an attacker who has obtained valid credentials can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code on the affected server. The buffer overflow occurs when the server processes a malformed BODY request containing excessive data, causing the program to write beyond allocated memory boundaries and potentially overwrite critical program structures including return addresses.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions as a fundamental weakness in software design and implementation. The flaw operates by leveraging the legacy RFC 1730 support within the imapd implementation, which was designed to maintain backward compatibility with older IMAP specifications. This legacy support creates an attack surface where input validation is insufficient to prevent maliciously crafted requests from causing memory corruption. When authenticated users submit a specially crafted BODY request with excessive data length, the server's internal buffer handling fails to properly bounds-check the input, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to redirect program execution flow. The operational impact extends beyond simple denial of service, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise and arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the imapd process.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on IMAP services, particularly those with older installations of the UW IMAP server. The requirement for authentication reduces the attack surface compared to unauthenticated vulnerabilities, but it does not eliminate the threat since legitimate users with valid credentials could be compromised through credential theft, insider threats, or social engineering attacks. The attack vector demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which involves valid accounts and credentials as a means to gain access to systems, and T1059.007, covering command and scripting interpreter for execution. Organizations using affected versions of the UW IMAP server should immediately implement mitigations including software updates, input validation enhancements, and monitoring for suspicious BODY request patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining current security practices and avoiding the use of legacy implementations that may contain known security flaws, as demonstrated by the continued presence of this vulnerability across multiple versions of the software.
The broader implications of this vulnerability extend to the security community's understanding of how legacy protocol support can introduce security risks in modern implementations. This case study illustrates the danger of maintaining backward compatibility without proper security hardening, as the RFC 1730 support was likely added to ensure compatibility with older systems but inadvertently created a security weakness. Organizations should consider the security implications of maintaining legacy protocol support and implement proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. The vulnerability also emphasizes the importance of regular security assessments and updates, as this flaw existed across multiple versions of the software and could have been addressed through proper security maintenance practices. This incident serves as a reminder that even well-established software can contain critical vulnerabilities that require immediate attention and remediation to prevent exploitation by malicious actors.