Description
The prescan function in Sendmail 8.12.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via buffer overflow attacks, as demonstrated using the parseaddr function in parseaddr.c.
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.
Metasploit 1 module
-
Sendmail SMTP Address prescan Memory Corruption
auxiliary/dos/smtp/sendmail_prescan
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
- 20030917 Sendmail 8.12.9 prescan bug (a new one) [CAN-2003-0694] mailing-list
- CA-2003-25 third-party-advisory
- VU#784980 third-party-advisory
- MDKSA-2003:092 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:603 vdb-entry signature
- 20030917 [slackware-security] Sendmail vulnerabilities fixed (SSA:2003-260-02) mailing-list
- DSA-384 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2003:284 vendor-advisory
- 20030917 GLSA: sendmail (200309-13) mailing-list
- 20030917 Zalewski Advisory - Sendmail 8.12.9 prescan bug mailing-list
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:572 vdb-entry signature
- 20030917 Sendmail 8.12.9 prescan bug (a new one) [CAN-2003-0694] mailing-list
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:2975 vdb-entry signature
- CLA-2003:742 vendor-advisory