Description
The map_yp_alias function in functions/imap_general.php in SquirrelMail before 1.4.19-1 on Debian GNU/Linux, and possibly other operating systems and versions, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in a username string that is used by the ypmatch program. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2009-1579.
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 | squirrelmail | 2:1.4.15-4+lenny2 | DSA-1802-2 |
| Debian 4.0 | squirrelmail | 2:1.4.9a-5 | DSA-1802-2 |
Advisories 1
- DSA-1802-2 squirrelmail - incomplete fix Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 35140 third-party-advisory
- FEDORA-2009-5350 vendor-advisory
- 20090521 [SECURITY] [DSA 1802-2] New squirrelmail packages correct incomplete fix mailing-list
- MDVSA-2009:122 vendor-advisory
- http://release.debian.org/proposed-updates/stable_diffs/squirrelmail_1.4.15-4+lenny2.debdiff
- FEDORA-2009-5471 vendor-advisory
- DSA-1802 vendor-advisory