Description
php_imap.c in PHP 5.2.5, 5.2.6, 4.x, and other versions, uses obsolete API calls that allow context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a long IMAP request, which triggers an "rfc822.c legacy routine buffer overflow" error message, related to the rfc822_write_address function.
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 5.0 | php5 | 5.2.5-3+lenny2 | DTSA-144-1 |
Advisories 1
- DTSA-144-1 php5 - Denial of Service Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- [oss-security] 20080624 Re: CVE request: php 5.2.6 ext/imap buffer overflows mailing-list
- 29829 vdb-entry
- 32746 third-party-advisory
- HPSBUX02465 vendor-advisory
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3549
- GLSA-200811-05 vendor-advisory
- php-phpimap-dos(43357) vdb-entry
- SSRT090085 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2009-3768 vendor-advisory
- 20090302 rPSA-2009-0035-1 php php-cgi php-imap php-mcrypt php-mysql php-mysqli php-pgsql php-soap php-xsl php5 php5-cgi php5-imap php5-mcrypt php5-mysql php5-mysqli php5-pear php5-pgsql php5-soap php5-xsl mailing-list
- http://wiki.rpath.com/Advisories:rPSA-2009-0035
- MDVSA-2008:128 vendor-advisory
- 35074 third-party-advisory
- USN-628-1 vendor-advisory
- APPLE-SA-2009-05-12 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2008:027 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20080619 CVE request: php 5.2.6 ext/imap buffer overflows mailing-list
- 31200 third-party-advisory
- 46641 vdb-entry
- FEDORA-2009-3848 vendor-advisory
- TA09-133A third-party-advisory
- ADV-2009-1297 vdb-entry
- http://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=42862
- MDVSA-2008:126 vendor-advisory
- 35306 third-party-advisory
- MDVSA-2008:127 vendor-advisory
- https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=221969
- 35650 third-party-advisory