CVE-2000-0319: mail.local in Sendmail 8.10.x does not properly identify the .\n string which identifies the end of message te

Routine

MEDIUM 5.0DOWNGRADE

CVE-2000-0319 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.0) affecting sendmail. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

mail.local in Sendmail 8.10.x does not properly identify the .\n string which identifies the end of message text, which allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service or corrupt mailboxes via a message line that is 2047 characters long and ends in .\n.

Why this priority

No elevated risk signals yet

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.0 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	1.8% (top 21%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2000-04-23
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: eric allman

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2000-04-23 04:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 21:51 UTCUpdated Record last modified

eric allman sendmail DOWNGRADE

Affected: 5.58 · 5.59 · 8.6.x · 8.7.1 · 8.7.2 · 8.7.3 · 8.7.4 · 8.7.5

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5.58

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy sendmail || rpm -q sendmail || sendmail --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 5.58 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison sendmail sudo apt install sendmail=<VERSION_BEFORE_5.58> sudo apt-mark hold sendmail

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list sendmail sudo dnf downgrade sendmail-<VERSION_BEFORE_5.58> sudo dnf versionlock add sendmail

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2000-0319?

sendmail: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2000-0319 being exploited?

CVE-2000-0319 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2000-0319 affect?

CVE-2000-0319 affects sendmail. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.0). mail.local in Sendmail 8.10.x does not properly identify the .\n string which identifies the end of message text, which allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service or corrupt mailboxes via a message line that is 2047 characters lo

How urgent is CVE-2000-0319?

Priority 37/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

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References

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