Description
A "potential buffer overflow in ruleset parsing" for Sendmail 8.12.9, when using the nonstandard rulesets (1) recipient (2), final, or (3) mailer-specific envelope recipients, has unknown consequences.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Sendmail 8.12.9 - 'Prescan()' Variant Remote Buffer Overrun EDB-23154 · remote · Sep 17, 2003 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- DSA-384 sendmail - buffer overflows Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 20030919 [OpenPKG-SA-2003.041] OpenPKG Security Advisory (sendmail) mailing-list
- http://www.sendmail.org/8.12.10.html
- RHSA-2003:283 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:595 vdb-entry signature
- MDKSA-2003:092 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:3606 vdb-entry signature
- VU#108964 third-party-advisory
- DSA-384 vendor-advisory
- sendmail-ruleset-parsing-bo(13216) vdb-entry
- 20030917 GLSA: sendmail (200309-13) mailing-list
- 8649 vdb-entry
- CLA-2003:742 vendor-advisory