CVE-2009-3838: Stack-based buffer overflow in Pegasus Mail (PMail) 4.41 and possibly 4.51 allows remote POP3 servers to cause

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HIGH 9.3DOWNGRADE

CVE-2009-3838 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 9.3) affecting pegasus mail. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Stack-based buffer overflow in Pegasus Mail (PMail) 4.41 and possibly 4.51 allows remote POP3 servers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a long error message.

Why this priority

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

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.3 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	6.2% (top 6%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-119
Published	2009-11-02
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: pmail

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2009-11-02 15:30 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 23:12 UTCUpdated Record last modified

pmail pegasus mail DOWNGRADE

Affected: 4.41 · 4.51

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.41

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.41 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison pegasus-mail sudo apt install pegasus-mail=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.41> sudo apt-mark hold pegasus-mail

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

dnf --showduplicates list pegasus-mail sudo dnf downgrade pegasus-mail-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.41> sudo dnf versionlock add pegasus-mail

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.

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: Pegasus Mail Client 4.51 - Remote Buffer Overflow

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-2009-3838?

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

Is CVE-2009-3838 being exploited?

CVE-2009-3838 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-2009-3838 affect?

CVE-2009-3838 affects pegasus mail. Severity is high (CVSS 9.3). Stack-based buffer overflow in Pegasus Mail (PMail) 4.41 and possibly 4.51 allows remote POP3 servers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a long error message.

How urgent is CVE-2009-3838?

Priority 61/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 6%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference

Related CVEs

CVE-2000-0931 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE Buffer overflow in Pegasus Mail 3.11 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute
CVE-2000-0930 MEDIUM 5.0 DOWNGRADE Pegasus Mail 3.12 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via an embedded URL that calls the mailto: p
CVE-2002-1075 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE Buffer overflow in Pegasus mail client 4.01 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (
CVE-1999-1366 LOW 3.6 UPGRADE Pegasus e-mail client 3.0 and earlier uses weak encryption to store POP3 passwords in the pmail.ini file, whic

References

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