Vulnerability Monitor

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CVE-2003-0161

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.

Security Impact Summary

CVE-2003-0161 is a security vulnerability that . Impacting 9 products from sendmail, from sendmail, from compaq and 6 others, organizations running these solutions should prioritize assessment and patching.

Historical Context

Originally identified in 2003, this vulnerability predates many modern security frameworks and practices. The vulnerability landscape of that era was characterized by different threat models and less mature defense mechanisms compared to contemporary standards.

Published

2003-04-02T05:00:00.000

Last Modified

2026-04-16T00:27:16.627

Status

Modified

Source

[email protected]

Severity

CVSSv2: 10.0 (HIGH)

CVSSv2 Vector

AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Access Vector: NETWORK
Access Complexity: LOW
Authentication: NONE
Confidentiality Impact: COMPLETE
Integrity Impact: COMPLETE
Availability Impact: COMPLETE

Exploitability Score

10.0

Impact Score

10.0

Weaknesses

Type: Primary
NVD-CWE-Other

Affected Vendors & Products

Type	Vendor	Product	Version/Range	Vulnerable?
Application	sendmail	sendmail	2.6	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	2.6.1	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	2.6.2	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	3.0	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	3.0.1	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	3.0.2	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	3.0.3	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.9.0	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.9.1	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.9.2	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.9.3	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.10	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.10.1	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.10.2	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.11.0	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.11.1	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.11.2	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.11.3	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.11.4	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.11.5	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.11.6	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.12	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.12	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.12	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.12	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.12	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.12.0	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.12.1	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.12.2	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.12.3	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.12.4	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.12.5	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.12.6	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.12.7	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail	8.12.8	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail_switch	2.1	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail_switch	2.1.1	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail_switch	2.1.2	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail_switch	2.1.3	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail_switch	2.1.4	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail_switch	2.1.5	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail_switch	2.2	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail_switch	2.2.1	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail_switch	2.2.2	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail_switch	2.2.3	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail_switch	2.2.4	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail_switch	2.2.5	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail_switch	3.0	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail_switch	3.0.1	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail_switch	3.0.2	Yes
Application	sendmail	sendmail_switch	3.0.3	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	4.0b	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	4.0d	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	4.0d_pk9_bl17	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	4.0f	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	4.0f_pk6_bl17	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	4.0f_pk7_bl18	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	4.0g	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	4.0g_pk3_bl17	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.0	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.0_pk4_bl17	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.0_pk4_bl18	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.0a	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.0a_pk3_bl17	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.0f	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.1	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.1_pk3_bl17	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.1_pk4_bl18	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.1_pk5_bl19	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.1_pk6_bl20	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.1a	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.1a_pk1_bl1	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.1a_pk2_bl2	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.1a_pk3_bl3	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.1b	Yes
Operating System	compaq	tru64	5.1b_pk1_bl1	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux	10.00	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux	10.01	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux	10.08	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux	10.09	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux	10.10	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux	10.16	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux	10.20	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux	10.24	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux	10.26	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux	10.30	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux	10.34	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux	11.00	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux	11.0.4	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux	11.11	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux	11.20	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux	11.22	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux_series_700	10.20	Yes
Operating System	hp	hp-ux_series_800	10.20	Yes
Operating System	hp	sis	*	Yes
Operating System	sun	solaris	2.4	Yes
Operating System	sun	solaris	2.5	Yes
Operating System	sun	solaris	2.5.1	Yes
Operating System	sun	solaris	2.5.1	Yes
Operating System	sun	solaris	2.6	Yes
Operating System	sun	solaris	7.0	Yes
Operating System	sun	solaris	8.0	Yes
Operating System	sun	solaris	9.0	Yes
Operating System	sun	solaris	9.0	Yes
Operating System	sun	solaris	9.0	Yes
Operating System	sun	sunos	-	Yes
Operating System	sun	sunos	5.4	Yes
Operating System	sun	sunos	5.5	Yes
Operating System	sun	sunos	5.5.1	Yes
Operating System	sun	sunos	5.7	Yes
Operating System	sun	sunos	5.8	Yes

References

ftp://ftp.caldera.com/pub/security/OpenLinux/CSSA-2003-016.0.txt ([email protected])
ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/CERT/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-03:07.sendmail.asc ([email protected])
ftp://ftp.sco.com/pub/updates/OpenServer/SCOSA-2004.11/SCOSA-2004.11.txt ([email protected])
ftp://patches.sgi.com/support/free/security/advisories/20030401-01-P ([email protected])
http://distro.conectiva.com.br/atualizacoes/?id=a&anuncio=000614 ([email protected])
http://lists.apple.com/mhonarc/security-announce/msg00028.html ([email protected])
http://lists.grok.org.uk/pipermail/full-disclosure/2003-March/004295.html ([email protected])
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=104896621106790&w=2 ([email protected])
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=104897487512238&w=2 ([email protected])
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=104914999806315&w=2 ([email protected])
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-52620-1 ([email protected])
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-52700-1 ([email protected])
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-77-1001088.1-1 ([email protected])
http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-2003-12.html Patch, Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource ([email protected])
http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-278 ([email protected])
http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-290 ([email protected])
http://www.gentoo.org/security/en/glsa/glsa-200303-27.xml ([email protected])
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/897604 US Government Resource ([email protected])
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2003-120.html Patch, Vendor Advisory ([email protected])
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2003-121.html ([email protected])
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/316961/30/25250/threaded ([email protected])
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/317135/30/25220/threaded ([email protected])
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/317135/30/25220/threaded ([email protected])
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/321997 ([email protected])
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/7230 Patch, Vendor Advisory ([email protected])
ftp://ftp.caldera.com/pub/security/OpenLinux/CSSA-2003-016.0.txt (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/CERT/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-03:07.sendmail.asc (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
ftp://ftp.sco.com/pub/updates/OpenServer/SCOSA-2004.11/SCOSA-2004.11.txt (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
ftp://patches.sgi.com/support/free/security/advisories/20030401-01-P (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://distro.conectiva.com.br/atualizacoes/?id=a&anuncio=000614 (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://lists.apple.com/mhonarc/security-announce/msg00028.html (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://lists.grok.org.uk/pipermail/full-disclosure/2003-March/004295.html (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=104896621106790&w=2 (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=104897487512238&w=2 (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=104914999806315&w=2 (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-52620-1 (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-52700-1 (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-77-1001088.1-1 (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-2003-12.html Patch, Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-278 (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-290 (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.gentoo.org/security/en/glsa/glsa-200303-27.xml (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/897604 US Government Resource (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2003-120.html Patch, Vendor Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2003-121.html (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/316961/30/25250/threaded (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/317135/30/25220/threaded (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/317135/30/25220/threaded (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/321997 (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/7230 Patch, Vendor Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)

How SecUtils Interprets This CVE

SecUtils normalizes and enriches National Vulnerability Database (NVD) records by standardizing vendor and product identifiers, aggregating vulnerability metadata from both NVD and MITRE sources, and providing structured context for security teams. For sendmail's affected products, we extract Common Platform Enumeration (CPE) data, Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) classifications, CVSS severity metrics, and reference data to enable rapid vulnerability prioritization and asset correlation. This record contains no exploit code, proof-of-concept instructions, or attack methodologies—only defensive intelligence necessary for patch management, risk assessment, and security operations.