Sendmail 2.0/2.5 Mailcap Entry Metacharacter privileges management

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Sendmail 2.0/2.5. This impacts an unknown function of the component Mailcap Entry Handler. This manipulation as part of Metacharacter causes privileges management. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-1999-0365. No exploit is available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Sendmail 2.0/2.5 (Mail Server Software) and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is some unknown functionality of the component Mailcap Entry Handler. The manipulation as part of a Metacharacter leads to a privileges management vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

The metamail package allows remote command execution using shell metacharacters that are not quoted in a mailcap entry.

The weakness was published 02/04/1999. This vulnerability is known as CVE-1999-0365. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1068 for this issue.

The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 86224 (Metainfo MetaIP and Sendmail Vulnerabilities).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (1676), SecurityFocus (BID 110†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-4023†). Similar entries are available at VDB-13899, VDB-14307 and VDB-81945. If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.0

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Privileges management
CWE: CWE-269 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

06/30/1998 🔍
02/04/1999 +219 days 🔍
02/04/1999 +0 days 🔍
02/04/1999 +0 days 🔍
03/23/2004 +1874 days 🔍
06/20/2014 +3741 days 🔍
10/26/2025 +4145 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-1999-0365 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-1999-0365
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-14485
X-Force: 1676
SecurityFocus: 110
Vulnerability Center: 4023 - Metamail Remote Command Execution via Unquoted Shell Metacharacters, High

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 06/20/2014 16:31
Updated: 10/26/2025 01:23
Changes: 06/20/2014 16:31 (47), 07/03/2017 09:12 (7), 06/23/2021 09:19 (4), 10/26/2025 01:23 (18)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:DC1:103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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