CVE-2008-5005: Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in (1) University of Washington IMAP Toolkit 2002 through 2007c, (2) Uni

This month

HIGH 10.0DOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2008-5005 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 10.0) affecting alpine, imap toolkit. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in (1) University of Washington IMAP Toolkit 2002 through 2007c, (2) University of Washington Alpine 2.00 and earlier, and (3) Panda IMAP allow (a) local users to gain privileges by specifying a long folder extension argument on the command line to the tmail or dmail program; and (b) remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by sending e-mail to a destination mailbox name composed of a username and '+' chara

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 6%: very likely to be exploited

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	10.0 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	6.4% (top 6%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-119
Published	2008-11-10
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: university of washington

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2008-11-10 14:12 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:58 UTCUpdated Record last modified

university of washington alpine DOWNGRADE

Affected: 0.80 · 0.81 · 0.82 · 0.83 · 0.98 · 0.99 · 0.999 · 0.9999

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.80

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 0.80 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison alpine sudo apt install alpine=<VERSION_BEFORE_0.80> sudo apt-mark hold alpine

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

dnf --showduplicates list alpine sudo dnf downgrade alpine-<VERSION_BEFORE_0.80> sudo dnf versionlock add alpine

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.

university of washington imap toolkit DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2007c

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2002

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy imap-toolkit || rpm -q imap-toolkit || imap-toolkit --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2002 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison imap-toolkit sudo apt install imap-toolkit=<VERSION_BEFORE_2002> sudo apt-mark hold imap-toolkit

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

dnf --showduplicates list imap-toolkit sudo dnf downgrade imap-toolkit-<VERSION_BEFORE_2002> sudo dnf versionlock add imap-toolkit

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-2008-5005?

alpine: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; imap toolkit: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2008-5005 being exploited?

CVE-2008-5005 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-2008-5005 affect?

CVE-2008-5005 affects alpine, imap toolkit. Severity is high (CVSS 10.0). Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in (1) University of Washington IMAP Toolkit 2002 through 2007c, (2) University of Washington Alpine 2.00 and earlier, and (3) Panda IMAP allow (a) local users to gain privileges by specifying a long fo

How urgent is CVE-2008-5005?

Priority 58/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 6%: very likely to be exploited

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References

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