Network Associates WebShield SMTP 4.5 MIME Encoded Attachment memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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7.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Network Associates WebShield SMTP 4.5. This affects an unknown function of the component MIME Encoded Attachment Handler. The manipulation leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2001-1542. There is not any exploit available. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Network Associates WebShield SMTP 4.5 and classified as critical. This issue affects an unknown code of the component MIME Encoded Attachment Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to 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. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

NAI WebShield SMTP 4.5 and possibly 4.5 MR1a does not filter improperly MIME encoded email attachments, which could allow remote attackers to bypass filtering and possibly execute arbitrary code in email clients that process the invalid attachments.

The bug was discovered 11/29/2001. The weakness was released 12/31/2001 as not defined posting (Bugtraq). The advisory is shared at archives.neohapsis.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2001-1542 since 07/14/2005. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 32 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 50030 (Network Associates WebShield SMTP MIME Decoding Vulnerability).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (7637), SecurityFocus (BID 3601†), OSVDB (4739†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-14967†). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

Vendor

Name

Version

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: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
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

11/29/2001 🔍
11/29/2001 +0 days 🔍
11/29/2001 +0 days 🔍
12/31/2001 +32 days 🔍
12/31/2001 +0 days 🔍
07/14/2005 +1291 days 🔍
04/29/2007 +654 days 🔍
07/11/2014 +2630 days 🔍
09/24/2025 +4093 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: archives.neohapsis.com
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2001-1542 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2001-1542
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-17861
X-Force: 7637
SecurityFocus: 3601 - Network Associates WebShield SMTP Malformed Mime Header Vulnerability
OSVDB: 4739 - Network Associates - WebShield SMTP - Malformed Mime Header Issue
Vulnerability Center: 14967 - WebShield SMTP Virus Detection Bypass via Improperly MIME Encoded Email Attachments, High

Entryinfo

Created: 07/11/2014 13:30
Updated: 09/24/2025 05:56
Changes: 07/11/2014 13:30 (60), 07/18/2019 15:38 (3), 09/24/2025 05:56 (20)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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

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