# CVE-2018-11780: Code injection in Apache SpamAssassin

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code via the PDFInfo plugin in Apache SpamAssassin, requiring an upgrade to secure the mail server.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Sep 2018
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2018-11780, DEBIAN-CVE-2018-11780, GHSA-ph2p-v983-f856, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-11780

## What is CVE-2018-11780?

CVE-2018-11780 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 17 Sep 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A potential Remote Code Execution bug exists with the PDFInfo plugin in Apache SpamAssassin before 3.4.2.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-11780?

It affects 4 products.


Products: Apache Spamassassin, Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Pdfinfo Project Pdfinfo.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-11780?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2018-11780 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-11780 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-1946](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1946/): Apache SpamAssassin has an OS Command Injection vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-1930](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1930/): Command injection in Apache SpamAssassin (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2020-1931](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1931/): Command injection in Apache SpamAssassin (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2018-11781](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11781/): Apache SpamAssassin 3.4.2 fixes a local user code injection in the meta rule syntax. (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2016-1238](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1238/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-11780 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-11780 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 17 Sep 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-11780 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux. 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-2018-11780/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11780/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-11780
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-11780
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-11780

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11780/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.