CVE-2003-0161
10.0 · HIGHThe prescan() function in the address parser (parseaddr.c) in Sendmail before 8.12.9 does not properly handle certain conversions from char and int types, which can cause a length check to be disab…
Overview
CVE-2003-0161 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting sendmail sendmail. It was published on April 2, 2003 and has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 10.0 (HIGH).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 10.0, rated HIGH. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
Technical description
The prescan() function in the address parser (parseaddr.c) in Sendmail before 8.12.9 does not properly handle certain conversions from char and int types, which can cause a length check to be disabled when Sendmail misinterprets an input value as a special "NOCHAR" control value, allowing attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a buffer overflow attack using messages, a different vulnerability than CVE-2002-1337.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from sendmail. Update sendmail to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
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References
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Frequently asked questions
What is CVE-2003-0161?
CVE-2003-0161 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting sendmail sendmail. It was published on April 2, 2003 and has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 10.0 (HIGH).
How severe is CVE-2003-0161?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 10.0, rated HIGH. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2003-0161?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from sendmail. Update sendmail to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2003-0161?
CyberStrike is an open-source, AI-augmented pentesting engine. Rather than flag a version number, it tests whether an issue like CVE-2003-0161 is actually reachable in your own applications and APIs, then verifies each finding before reporting it. That tells you if the weakness is a real, exploitable risk in your environment or a false positive you can safely deprioritize.
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