Description
getmail 4.x before 4.2.0, and other versions before 3.2.5, when run as root, allows local users to write files in arbitrary directories via a symlink attack on subdirectories in the maildir.
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 ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 3.0 | getmail | 2.3.7-2 | DSA-553-1 |
Advisories 1
- DSA-553-1 getmail - symlink vulnerability Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 20040919 Local root compromise possible with getmail mailing-list
- DSA-553 vendor-advisory
- http://www.qcc.ca/~charlesc/software/getmail-4/CHANGELOG
- GLSA-200409-32 vendor-advisory
- getmail-maildir-race-condition(17439) vdb-entry