Description
The format string protection mechanism in IMAPD for Perdition Mail Retrieval Proxy 1.17 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an IMAP tag with a null byte followed by a format string specifier, which is not counted by the mechanism.
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 14 | perdition | 1.17.1-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | perdition | 1.17.1-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | perdition | 1.17.1-1 | — |
| Debian 5.0 | perdition | 1.17-8+lenny1 | DTSA-84-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | perdition | 1.17-7etch1 | DSA-1398-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 3.1 | perdition | 1.15-5sarge1 | DSA-1398-1 |
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
- Perdition 1.17 - IMAPD __STR_VWRITE Remote Format String EDB-30724 · dos · Oct 31, 2007 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- DTSA-84-1 perdition - format string vulnerability Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-1398-1 perdition - format string vulnerability Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 27520 third-party-advisory
- 1018883 vdb-entry
- http://www.vergenet.net/linux/perdition/ChangeLog.shtml
- http://www.sec-consult.com/300.html
- 20071031 SEC Consult SA-20071031-0 :: Perdition IMAP Proxy Format String Vulnerability mailing-list
- DSA-1398 vendor-advisory
- 27458 third-party-advisory
- perdition-imap-strvwrite-format-string(38184) vdb-entry
- ADV-2007-3677 vdb-entry
- 20071031 SEC Consult SA-20071031-0 :: Perdition IMAP Proxy Format StringVulnerability mailing-list
- 26270 vdb-entry