// For flags

CVE-2021-38542

Apache James vulnerable to STARTTLS command injection (IMAP and POP3)

Severity Score

5.9
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

-
*SSVC
Descriptions

Apache James prior to release 3.6.1 is vulnerable to a buffering attack relying on the use of the STARTTLS command. This can result in Man-in -the-middle command injection attacks, leading potentially to leakage of sensible information.

Apache James versiones anteriores a 3.6.1, es vulnerable a un ataque de buffering que es basado en el uso del comando STARTTLS. Esto puede resultar en ataques de inyección de comandos de tipo "Man-in-the-middle", conllevando potencialmente a un filtrado de información confidencial

*Credits: We thanks Benoit Tellier, Raphael Ouazana for reporting this vulnerability as well as Damian Poddebniak, Fabian Ising, Hanno Böck, and Sebastian Schinzel Münster University of Applied Science for their research and tools regarding STARTTLS security.
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
None
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Medium
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Partial
Integrity
None
Availability
None
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:-
Exploitation
-
Automatable
-
Tech. Impact
-
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2021-08-11 CVE Reserved
  • 2022-01-04 CVE Published
  • 2024-08-04 CVE Updated
  • 2024-09-19 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
  • CWE-327: Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Apache
Search vendor "Apache"
 James
Search vendor "Apache" for product "James"
 < 3.6.1
Search vendor "Apache" for product "James" and version " < 3.6.1"
-
Affected