Description
main.C in maildrop 2.3.0 and earlier, when run by root with the -d option, uses the gid of root for execution of the .mailfilter file in a user's home directory, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted file.
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 | maildrop | 2.2.0-3.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | maildrop | 2.2.0-3.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | maildrop | 2.2.0-3.1 | — |
| Debian 5.0 | maildrop | 2.0.4-3+lenny1 | DSA-1981-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | maildrop | 2.0.2-11+etch1 | DSA-1981-1 |
Advisories 1
- DSA-1981-1 maildrop - privilege escalation Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- DSA-1981 vendor-advisory
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=564601
- 38374 third-party-advisory
- [oss-security] 20100128 Re: CVE id request: maildrop mailing-list
- http://www.courier-mta.org/maildrop/changelog.html
- maildrop-group-priv-escalation(55980) vdb-entry
- [oss-security] 20100128 Re: CVE id request: maildrop mailing-list
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=559681
- [oss-security] 20100128 Re: CVE id request: maildrop mailing-list
- 1023515 vdb-entry
- 38367 third-party-advisory
- [oss-security] 20100127 CVE id request: maildrop mailing-list