Description
The map_yp_alias function in functions/imap_general.php in SquirrelMail before 1.4.18 and NaSMail before 1.7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in a username string that is used by the ypmatch program.
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+lenny1 | DSA-1802-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | squirrelmail | 2:1.4.9a-4 | DSA-1802-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | squirrelmail | 1.4.8-5.el5_3.7 | RHSA-2009:1066 |
| RHEL 4 | squirrelmail | 1.4.8-5.el4_8.5 | RHSA-2009:1066 |
| RHEL 3 | squirrelmail | 1.4.8-13.el3 | RHSA-2009:1066 |
Advisories 2
- DSA-1802-1 squirrelmail - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- RHSA-2009:1066 Red Hat Security Advisory: squirrelmail security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
References
- APPLE-SA-2010-06-15-1 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10986 vdb-entry signature
- http://squirrelmail.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/squirrelmail/branches/SM-1_4-STABLE/squirrelmail/functions/imap_general.php?r1=13674&r2=13673&pathrev=13674
- https://gna.org/forum/forum.php?forum_id=2146
- MDVSA-2009:110 vendor-advisory
- 34916 vdb-entry
- http://squirrelmail.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/squirrelmail/branches/SM-1_4-STABLE/squirrelmail/doc/ChangeLog
- ADV-2010-1481 vdb-entry
- FEDORA-2009-4870 vendor-advisory
- 35140 third-party-advisory
- http://download.gna.org/nasmail/nasmail-1.7.zip
- FEDORA-2009-4880 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=500360
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4188
- 40220 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2009-1296 vdb-entry
- 35259 third-party-advisory
- 35052 third-party-advisory
- FEDORA-2009-4875 vendor-advisory
- squirrelmail-mapypalias-code-execution(50461) vdb-entry
- RHSA-2009:1066 vendor-advisory
- 37415 third-party-advisory
- 35073 third-party-advisory
- http://squirrelmail.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/squirrelmail?view=rev&revision=13674
- ADV-2009-3315 vdb-entry
- http://www.squirrelmail.org/security/issue/2009-05-10
- DSA-1802 vendor-advisory