CVE-2008-5991: Directory traversal vulnerability in docs.php in MailWatch for MailScanner 1.0.4 and earlier allows remote att

Q: How do I fix CVE-2008-5991?

mailwatch: upgrade to newer than 1.0.4. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2008-5991 being exploited?

CVE-2008-5991 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-2008-5991 affect?

CVE-2008-5991 affects mailwatch. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). Directory traversal vulnerability in docs.php in MailWatch for MailScanner 1.0.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via a .. (dot dot) in the doc parameter.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2008-5991?

Priority 55/100. High severity; EPSS top 7%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference

This month

HIGH 7.5UPGRADE

CVE-2008-5991 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting mailwatch. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Directory traversal vulnerability in docs.php in MailWatch for MailScanner 1.0.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via a .. (dot dot) in the doc parameter.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 7%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.5 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	5.9% (top 7%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-22
Published	2009-01-28
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: mailwatch

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2009-01-28 15:30 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 23:01 UTCUpdated Record last modified

mailwatch mailwatch UPGRADE

Affected: <= 1.0.4 · 0.3 beta · 0.4 · 0.5 · 0.5.1 · 1.0 · 1.0.2 · 1.0.3

Fixed in: newer than 1.0.4

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 1.0.4 (Debian / Ubuntu)

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

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade mailwatch

Note

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

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: mailwatch 1.0.4 - 'doc' Local File Inclusion

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-2008-5991?

mailwatch: upgrade to newer than 1.0.4. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2008-5991 being exploited?

CVE-2008-5991 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-2008-5991 affect?

CVE-2008-5991 affects mailwatch. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). Directory traversal vulnerability in docs.php in MailWatch for MailScanner 1.0.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via a .. (dot dot) in the doc parameter.

How urgent is CVE-2008-5991?

Priority 55/100. High severity; EPSS top 7%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference

Software pages

PHP vulnerabilities

References

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