Microsoft Exchange 4.0/5.0 SMTP HELO memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Microsoft Exchange 4.0/5.0. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the component SMTP HELO Handler. Executing a manipulation can lead to memory corruption. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-1999-0284. Furthermore, an exploit is available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Microsoft Exchange 4.0/5.0 (Groupware Software). This vulnerability affects an unknown functionality of the component SMTP HELO Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Denial of service to NT mail servers including Ipswitch, Mdaemon, and Exchange through a buffer overflow in the SMTP HELO command.

The weakness was published 01/01/1998 with Shell. This vulnerability was named CVE-1999-0284. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

A public exploit has been developed in ANSI C. It is possible to download the exploit at securityfocus.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. As 0-day the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 10162 (Lotus Notes SMTP Server HELO Command Overflow DoS), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family SMTP problems and running in the context r. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 74062 (Microsoft Exchange 4.0 and 5.0 (non SP1) HELO Buffer Overflow).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (886), Exploit-DB (23146), Tenable (10162), SecurityFocus (BID 8555†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-401†). Similar entries are available at VDB-14097, VDB-14110 and VDB-14116. If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

  • IBM Lotus Domino
  • Microsoft Exchange 4.0/5.0

Productinfo

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Vendor

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.6

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Programming Language: 🔍
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 10162
Nessus Name: Lotus Notes SMTP Server HELO Command Overflow DoS
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍
ISS Proventia IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

01/01/1998 🔍
01/01/1998 +0 days 🔍
01/01/1998 +0 days 🔍
03/10/1998 +68 days 🔍
06/22/1999 +469 days 🔍
12/17/2002 +1274 days 🔍
06/18/2014 +4201 days 🔍
04/17/2026 +4321 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Organization: Shell
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-1999-0284 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-1999-0284
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-14050
X-Force: 886
SecurityFocus: 8555 - Microsoft Exchange Server SMTP HELO Argument Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Vulnerability Center: 401 - Buffer Overflow in NT Mail Servers via SMTP HELO Command, High

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 06/18/2014 18:08
Updated: 04/17/2026 04:57
Changes: 06/18/2014 18:08 (65), 05/06/2019 16:47 (6), 01/13/2025 00:21 (19), 10/26/2025 02:47 (4), 04/17/2026 04:57 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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