Description
An issue was discovered in Cyrus IMAP before 2.5.15, 3.0.x before 3.0.13, and 3.1.x through 3.1.8. If sieve script uploading is allowed (3.x) or certain non-default sieve options are enabled (2.x), a user with a mail account on the service can use a sieve script containing a fileinto directive to create any mailbox with administrator privileges, because of folder mishandling in autosieve_createfolder() in imap/lmtp_sieve.c.
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 | cyrus-imapd | 3.0.13-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | cyrus-imapd | 3.0.13-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | cyrus-imapd | 3.0.13-1 | — |
| Debian 10 | cyrus-imapd | 3.0.8-6+deb10u3 | DSA-4590-1 |
| Debian 9 | cyrus-imapd | 2.5.10-3+deb9u2 | DSA-4590-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | cyrus-imapd | 2.5.10-3ubuntu1.1 | USN-4566-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 8 | cyrus-imapd +2 | 3.0.7-19.el8 | RHSA-2020:4655 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | cyrus-imapd | 3.8.4-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2025:14968-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 8 | cyrus-imapd +2 | 3.0.7-19.el8 | ELSA-2020-4655 |
Advisories 5
- USN-4566-1 cyrus-imapd vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-4590-1 cyrus-imapd - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2025:14968-1 cyradm-3.8.4-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- RHSA-2020:4655 Red Hat Security Advisory: cyrus-imapd security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
- ELSA-2020-4655 Moderate: cyrus-imapd security update (Oracle Linux 8) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 10, 2020
References
- https://www.cyrusimap.org/imap/download/release-notes/2.5/x/2.5.15.html
- https://www.cyrusimap.org/imap/download/release-notes/3.0/x/3.0.13.html
- 20191219 [SECURITY] [DSA 4590-1] cyrus-imapd security update mailing-list
- DSA-4590 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2019-7938c21723 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2019-ad23a4522d vendor-advisory
- GLSA-202006-23 vendor-advisory
- USN-4566-1 vendor-advisory