CVE-2002-2423: Sendmail 8.12.0 through 8.12.6 truncates log messages longer than 100 characters, which allows remote attacker

Routine

MEDIUM 6.4DOWNGRADE

CVE-2002-2423 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.4) affecting sendmail. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Sendmail 8.12.0 through 8.12.6 truncates log messages longer than 100 characters, which allows remote attackers to prevent the IP address from being logged via a long IDENT response.

Why this priority

No elevated risk signals yet

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.4 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	1.2% (top 33%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-20
Published	2002-12-31
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: sendmail

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2002-12-31 05:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:01 UTCUpdated Record last modified

sendmail sendmail DOWNGRADE

Affected: 8.12.0 · 8.12.1 · 8.12.2 · 8.12.3 · 8.12.4 · 8.12.5 · 8.12.6

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.12.0

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 8.12.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison sendmail sudo apt install sendmail=<VERSION_BEFORE_8.12.0> sudo apt-mark hold sendmail

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

dnf --showduplicates list sendmail sudo dnf downgrade sendmail-<VERSION_BEFORE_8.12.0> 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.

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-2002-2423?

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

Is CVE-2002-2423 being exploited?

CVE-2002-2423 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-2002-2423 affect?

CVE-2002-2423 affects sendmail. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.4). Sendmail 8.12.0 through 8.12.6 truncates log messages longer than 100 characters, which allows remote attackers to prevent the IP address from being logged via a long IDENT response.

How urgent is CVE-2002-2423?

Priority 39/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

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References

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