libesmtp 0.8.11 protocol.c read_smtp_response memory corruption

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

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in libesmtp 0.8.11 and classified as critical. Impacted is the function read_smtp_response of the file protocol.c. The manipulation results in memory corruption. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2002-1090. No exploit exists. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in libesmtp 0.8.11. Affected is the function read_smtp_response of the file protocol.c. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as 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. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Buffer overflow in read_smtp_response of protocol.c in libesmtp before 0.8.11 allows a remote SMTP server to (1) execute arbitrary code via a certain response or (2) cause a denial of service via long server responses.

The bug was discovered 03/06/2002. The weakness was disclosed 10/04/2002 (Website). The advisory is available at stafford.uklinux.net. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2002-1090. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 212 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 12382 (RHEL 2.1 : balsa (RHSA-2003:111)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Red Hat Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 74168 (Red Hat Balsa SMTP/IMAP Buffer Overflow Vulnerability).

Upgrading to version 0.8.11 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published 9 months after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (10094), Tenable (12382), SecurityFocus (BID 7269†), OSVDB (14489†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-6818†). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

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

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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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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Nessus ID: 12382
Nessus Name: RHEL 2.1 : balsa (RHSA-2003:111)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Upgrade: libesmtp 0.8.11

Timelineinfo

03/06/2002 🔍
03/06/2002 +0 days 🔍
10/04/2002 +212 days 🔍
10/04/2002 +0 days 🔍
04/03/2003 +181 days 🔍
05/22/2003 +49 days 🔍
07/06/2004 +411 days 🔍
01/10/2005 +188 days 🔍
07/29/2014 +3487 days 🔍
09/08/2025 +4059 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: stafford.uklinux.net
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2002-1090 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2002-1090
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-19002
X-Force: 10094
SecurityFocus: 7269 - libesmtp read_smtp_response Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
OSVDB: 14489 - libESMTP, Buffer Overflow in read_smtp_response Function
Vulnerability Center: 6818 - Buffer Overflow in libESMTP via read_smtp_response, High

Entryinfo

Created: 07/29/2014 17:56
Updated: 09/08/2025 13:45
Changes: 07/29/2014 17:56 (68), 05/29/2019 10:47 (6), 09/08/2025 13:45 (20)
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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