# CVE-2005-2878: Code injection in n/a

> Remote authenticated users can execute arbitrary code via format string vulnerabilities in the IMAP SEARCH command of GNU Mailutils.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 13 Sep 2005
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2005-2878, DSA-841-1, DTSA-20-1, GHSA-6mvq-9mv3-ppcp

## What is CVE-2005-2878?

CVE-2005-2878 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 13 Sep 2005. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Format string vulnerability in search.c in the imap4d server in GNU Mailutils 0.6 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via format string specifiers in the SEARCH command.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2005-2878?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Gnu Mailutils.

## How do I fix CVE-2005-2878?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2005-2878 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2005-2878 exists.

Public exploit code:

- GNU Mailutils imap4d 0.6 - 'Search' Remote Format String (exploitdb)
- GNU Mailutils imap4d 0.6 (FreeBSD) - 'Search' Remote Format String (exploitdb)
- GNU Mailutils imap4d 0.6 - exec-shield Remote Format String (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2019-18862](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-18862/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2005-1824](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-1824/): SQL injection in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2005-1520](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-1520/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2005-1521](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-1521/): Integer overflow in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2005-1523](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-1523/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2005-2878 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2005-2878 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 13 Sep 2005. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2005-2878 exists.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-2878/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-2878/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2005-2878
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2005-2878
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2005-2878

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-2878/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.