GNU Mailman 2.1 options.py email/language cross site scripting

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 3.9 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in GNU Mailman 2.1. This impacts an unknown function of the file options.py. The manipulation of the argument email/language leads to cross site scripting. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2003-0038. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. Moreover, an exploit is present. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.
Details
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in GNU Mailman 2.1 (Mail Client Software). This issue affects some unknown processing of the file options.py. The manipulation of the argument email/language with an unknown input leads to a cross site scripting vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-80. The product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special characters such as "<", ">", and "&" that could be interpreted as web-scripting elements when they are sent to a downstream component that processes web pages. Impacted is integrity. The summary by CVE is:
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in options.py for Mailman 2.1 allows remote attackers to inject script or HTML into web pages via the (1) email or (2) language parameters.
The bug was discovered 01/24/2003. The weakness was disclosed 01/24/2003 by Manuel Rodriguez with ProCheckUp (Website). The advisory is shared at debian.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2003-0038. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details as well as a public exploit are known. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1059.007 for this issue.
The exploit is available at exploit-db.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 15273 (Debian DSA-436-1 : mailman - several vulnerabilities), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Debian Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 11066 (GNU Mailman 'email' Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability).
Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published 2 years after the disclosure of the vulnerability.
The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (11175), Exploit-DB (22198), Tenable (15273), SecurityFocus (BID 6677†) and OSVDB (9205†). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.gnu.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔍VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.3VulDB Meta Temp Score: 3.9
VulDB Base Score: 4.3
VulDB Temp Score: 3.9
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv2
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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VulDB Reliability: 🔍
NVD Base Score: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Cross site scriptingCWE: CWE-80 / CWE-74 / CWE-707
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍
Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes
Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍
EPSS Score: 🔍
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Nessus ID: 15273
Nessus Name: Debian DSA-436-1 : mailman - several vulnerabilities
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍
OpenVAS ID: 53135
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 436-1 (mailman)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍
Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍
Exploit-DB: 🔍
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍
Timeline
01/24/2003 🔍01/24/2003 🔍
01/24/2003 🔍
01/24/2003 🔍
02/07/2003 🔍
02/08/2004 🔍
04/09/2004 🔍
09/29/2004 🔍
09/25/2005 🔍
08/07/2014 🔍
08/26/2025 🔍
Sources
Vendor: gnu.orgAdvisory: debian.org
Researcher: Manuel Rodriguez
Organization: ProCheckUp
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍
CVE: CVE-2003-0038 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2003-0038
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-20117
X-Force: 11175
SecurityFocus: 6677 - GNU Mailman 'email' Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability
OSVDB: 9205 - Mailman options.py email Parameter XSS
SecurityTracker: 1005987
Vulnerability Center: 9229 - Gnu Mailman 2.1 XSS via the email \x26 language Parameters, Medium
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
Entry
Created: 08/07/2014 17:49Updated: 08/26/2025 05:07
Changes: 08/07/2014 17:49 (76), 06/09/2019 16:41 (8), 08/04/2024 05:22 (25), 08/26/2025 05:07 (2)
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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