CVE-2007-3897: Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Outlook Express 6 and earlier, and Windows Mail for Vista, allows remo

Q: How do I fix CVE-2007-3897?

outlook express: upgrade to newer than 6.0; windows mail: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2007-3897 being exploited?

CVE-2007-3897 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2007-3897 affect?

CVE-2007-3897 affects outlook express, windows mail. Severity is high (CVSS 9.3). Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Outlook Express 6 and earlier, and Windows Mail for Vista, allows remote Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP) servers to execute arbitrary code via long NNTP responses that trigger memory corruption.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2007-3897?

Priority 62/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; On your watchlist

This week

HIGH 9.3WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2007-3897 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 9.3) affecting outlook express, windows mail. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Outlook Express 6 and earlier, and Windows Mail for Vista, allows remote Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP) servers to execute arbitrary code via long NNTP responses that trigger memory corruption.

Why this priority

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

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.3 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	54.6% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-119
Published	2007-10-09
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): Microsoft Corporation · Vendor: microsoft

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2007-10-09 22:17 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:42 UTCUpdated Record last modified

microsoft outlook express UPGRADE

Affected: <= 6.0 · 6.0 sp1

Fixed in: newer than 6.0

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy outlook-express || rpm -q outlook-express || outlook-express --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 6.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade outlook-express

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade outlook-express

Note

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

microsoft windows mail MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy windows-mail || rpm -q windows-mail || windows-mail --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

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-2007-3897?

outlook express: upgrade to newer than 6.0; windows mail: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2007-3897 being exploited?

CVE-2007-3897 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-2007-3897 affect?

CVE-2007-3897 affects outlook express, windows mail. Severity is high (CVSS 9.3). Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Outlook Express 6 and earlier, and Windows Mail for Vista, allows remote Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP) servers to execute arbitrary code via long NNTP responses that trigger memory corruption.

How urgent is CVE-2007-3897?

Priority 62/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; On your watchlist

Software pages

Windows vulnerabilities · Outlook vulnerabilities

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References

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