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Vulnerability record · CVE-1999-0203 · published 17 August 1995

CVE-1999-0203: Eric allman sendmail vulnerability

EEric Allman · Sendmail

In Sendmail, attackers can gain root privileges via SMTP by specifying an improper "mail from" address and an invalid "rcpt to" address that would cause the mail to bounce to a program.

10.0 CVSS 2.0 High EPSS 2.1% · top 18.8%
10.0CVSS 2.0 base score
2.1%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
2References
16 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

In Sendmail, attackers can gain root privileges via SMTP by specifying an improper "mail from" address and an invalid "rcpt to" address that would cause the mail to bounce to a program.

AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-1999-0203
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-1999-0203

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

10.0CVE-1999-0047Eric allman sendmail vulnerabilityMIME conversion buffer overflow in sendmail versions 8.8.3 and 8.8.4.EPSS 3.1%10.0CVE-1999-0204Eric allman sendmail vulnerabilitySendmail 8.6.9 allows remote attackers to execute root commands, using ident.EPSS 8.8%10.0CVE-1999-0206Eric allman sendmail vulnerabilityMIME buffer overflow in Sendmail 8.8.0 and 8.8.1 gives root access.EPSS 1.9%10.0CVE-1999-0095Eric allman sendmail vulnerabilityThe debug command in Sendmail is enabled, allowing attackers to execute commands as root.EPSS 16%7.2CVE-1999-0163Eric allman sendmail vulnerabilityIn older versions of Sendmail, an attacker could use a pipe character to execute root commands.EPSS 0.44%7.2CVE-1999-0130Caldera network desktop vulnerabilityLocal users can start Sendmail in daemon mode and gain root privileges.EPSS 1.1%7.2CVE-1999-0131Eric allman sendmail vulnerabilityBuffer overflow and denial of service in Sendmail 8.7.5 and earlier through GECOS field gives root access to local users.EPSS 0.57%7.2CVE-1999-0145Eric allman sendmail vulnerabilitySendmail WIZ command enabled, allowing root access.EPSS 0.98%

Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-1999-0203), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.