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SMTP smuggling in Apache James

High severity GitHub Reviewed Published Feb 27, 2024 to the GitHub Advisory Database • Updated Nov 13, 2024

Package

maven org.apache.james:james-server (Maven)

Affected versions

< 3.7.5
= 3.8.0

Patched versions

3.7.5
3.8.1

Description

Apache James prior to versions 3.8.1 and 3.7.5 is vulnerable to SMTP smuggling.

A lenient behaviour in line delimiter handling might create a difference of interpretation between the sender and the receiver which can be exploited by an attacker to forge an SMTP envelop, allowing for instance to bypass SPF checks.

The patch implies enforcement of CRLF as a line delimiter as part of the DATA transaction.

We recommend James users to upgrade to non vulnerable versions.

References

Published by the National Vulnerability Database Feb 27, 2024
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Feb 27, 2024
Reviewed Feb 27, 2024
Last updated Nov 13, 2024

Severity

High

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
High
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N

EPSS score

0.045%
(18th percentile)

Weaknesses

CVE ID

CVE-2023-51747

GHSA ID

GHSA-p5q9-86w4-2xr5

Source code

Credits

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