CVE-2003-0681: A "potential buffer overflow in ruleset parsing" for Sendmail 8.12.9, when using the nonstandard rulesets (1) recipient (2), final, or (3)…
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Monitor (action score 37/100)
- Public proof-of-concept code exists (Exploit-DB); there is no record of exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 22.3% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 97.7% of all records.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- Fixed version: sendmail (Debian:12) 8.12.10-1; sendmail (Debian:3.0) 8.12.3-6.6; sendmail-wide (Debian:3.0) 8.12.3+3.5Wbeta-5.5.
Low priority for now. Upgrade to sendmail (Debian:12) 8.12.10-1; sendmail (Debian:3.0) 8.12.3-6.6; sendmail-wide (Debian:3.0) 8.12.3+3.5Wbeta-5.5 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS
A "potential buffer overflow in ruleset parsing" for Sendmail 8.12.9, when using the nonstandard rulesets (1) recipient (2), final, or (3) mailer-specific envelope recipients, has unknown consequences.
- Published
- Oct 6, 2003
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 22.3% · 97th percentile
- CWE
- —
Report tools
Action score
37
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 30 / 40 · 7.5 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 7 / 30 · 22.3%
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- Proof of concept exists, no weaponized module
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
Is your version affected? Check itNoroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| sendmail | advanced message server | cpe:2.3:a:sendmail:advanced_message_server |
| sendmail | sendmail | cpe:2.3:a:sendmail:sendmail |
| sendmail | sendmail pro | cpe:2.3:a:sendmail:sendmail_pro |
| sendmail | sendmail switch | cpe:2.3:a:sendmail:sendmail_switch |
| apple | mac os x | cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x |
| apple | mac os x server | cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x_server |
| gentoo | linux | cpe:2.3:o:gentoo:linux |
| hp | hp-ux | cpe:2.3:o:hp:hp-ux |
| ibm | aix | cpe:2.3:o:ibm:aix |
| netbsd | netbsd | cpe:2.3:o:netbsd:netbsd |
| openbsd | openbsd | cpe:2.3:o:openbsd:openbsd |
| turbolinux | turbolinux advanced server | cpe:2.3:o:turbolinux:turbolinux_advanced_server |
and 2 more
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- apple mac os x10.2
- apple mac os x10.2.1
- apple mac os x10.2.2
- apple mac os x10.2.3
- apple mac os x10.2.4
- apple mac os x10.2.5
- apple mac os x10.2.6
- apple mac os x server10.2
+12 more rows
- apple mac os x server10.2.1
- apple mac os x server10.2.2
- apple mac os x server10.2.3
- apple mac os x server10.2.4
- apple mac os x server10.2.5
- apple mac os x server10.2.6
- gentoo linux0.5
- gentoo linux0.7
- gentoo linux1.1a
- gentoo linux1.2
- gentoo linux1.4
- hp hp-ux11.0.4
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | sendmail | before 8.12.10-1 | 8.12.10-1 |
| Debian:3.0 | sendmail | before 8.12.3-6.6 | 8.12.3-6.6 |
| Debian:3.0 | sendmail-wide | before 8.12.3+3.5Wbeta-5.5 | 8.12.3+3.5Wbeta-5.5 |
Same product
sendmail: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2003-0694The prescan function in Sendmail 8.12.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via buffer overflow attacks, as demonstrated…60This week
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:sendmail | 8.12.10-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:sendmail-wide | 8.12.3+3.5Wbeta-5.5 · Debian:3.0 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Proof of concept available
A public proof of concept or detection signature exists. Exploit knowledge is out there; don't delay patching.
Evidence
- Exploit-DB entry ×1
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB entry | remote | 2003-09-17 |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- First PoC-19 d
- Published
- TodayNov 15, 2026+8441 d
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Bug bounty scope
The product’s vendor appears in a public program. Matched by name; verify the scope text in the program.
Not on record for this CVE: patch commit or PR link · researcher credit · variant or chain candidate.
Technical details
Attack conditions
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- P · data can be read
- Integrity
- P · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- P · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Confidentiality impact
- P
- Integrity impact
- P
- Availability impact
- P
Weakness class (CWE)
—
CVSS vector
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Change log (1)
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (11 more)Show less
- marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=106383437615742&w=2
- marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=106398718909274&w=2
- www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-384
- www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/108964
- www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2003:092
- www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2003-283.html
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/8649
- www.sendmail.org/8.12.10.html
- exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/13216
- oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A3606
- oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A595
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.