CVE-2002-1337: Buffer overflow in Sendmail 5.79 to 8.12.7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via certain forma

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HIGH 10.0WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2002-1337 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 10.0) affecting sendmail, alphaserver sc, linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Buffer overflow in Sendmail 5.79 to 8.12.7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via certain formatted address fields, related to sender and recipient header comments as processed by the crackaddr function of headers.c.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	10.0 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	72.6% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-120
Published	2003-03-07
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: gentoo · hp · netbsd · oracle · sendmail

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2003-03-07 05:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 21:59 UTCUpdated Record last modified

sendmail sendmail UPGRADE

Affected: < 8.9.3 · >= 8.10.0 and < 8.11.6 · >= 8.12.0 and < 8.12.8

Fixed in: 8.9.3, 8.11.6, 8.12.8

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.10.0

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 8.9.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade sendmail

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade sendmail

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 8.10.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison sendmail sudo apt install sendmail=<VERSION_BEFORE_8.10.0> sudo apt-mark hold sendmail

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list sendmail sudo dnf downgrade sendmail-<VERSION_BEFORE_8.10.0> 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.

hp alphaserver sc MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Firmware

Install the latest firmware from the vendor advisory; if none, apply the vendor workaround.

gentoo linux MITIGATE

Affected: 1.4 rc1 · 1.4 rc2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.4

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

hp hp-ux MITIGATE

Affected: 10.10 · 10.20 · 11.00 · 11.0.4 · 11.11 · 11.22

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10.10

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

netbsd netbsd MITIGATE

Affected: 1.5 · 1.5.1 · 1.5.2 · 1.5.3 · 1.6

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.5

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

oracle solaris MITIGATE

Affected: 2.6 · 7.0 · 8 · 9

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.6

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora 46 · rust-cargo-semver-checks · FIXED · 0.51.0-7.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-1bbb7e855a · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-1bbb7e855a

Fedora ELN · fuse-sshfs · FIXED · 3.7.6-3.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-bcb7be7c5c · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-bcb7be7c5c

Debian 12 · sendmail · FIXED · 8.13.0.PreAlpha4-0

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade sendmail dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' sendmail)" ge "8.13.0.PreAlpha4-0" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Debian 13 · sendmail · FIXED · 8.13.0.PreAlpha4-0

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade sendmail dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' sendmail)" ge "8.13.0.PreAlpha4-0" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: Sendmail 8.11.x (Linux/i386) - Local Privilege Escalation
Exploit-DB: Sendmail 8.12.x - Header Processing Buffer Overflow (1)
Exploit-DB: Sendmail 8.12.x - Header Processing Buffer Overflow (2)

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-2002-1337?

sendmail: upgrade to 8.9.3, 8.11.6, 8.12.8; alphaserver sc: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2002-1337 being exploited?

CVE-2002-1337 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-2002-1337 affect?

CVE-2002-1337 affects sendmail, alphaserver sc, linux. Severity is high (CVSS 10.0). Buffer overflow in Sendmail 5.79 to 8.12.7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via certain formatted address fields, related to sender and recipient header comments as processed by the crackaddr function of headers.c.

How urgent is CVE-2002-1337?

Priority 70/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

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References

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