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CVE-2026-27851NVD status: Modified

OX Dovecot Pro: Improper Handling of Extra Parameters

CVE-2026-27851 is a critical-severity improper handling of extra parameters vulnerability in OX Dovecot Pro from Open-Xchange, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected OX Dovecot Pro versions: 3.1.4 and earlier; 2.4.3 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.41% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Update Dovecot to 2.4.4 or a later version.
  2. Read the advisory on documentation.open-xchange.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Open-XchangeOX Dovecot Pro3.1.4 and earlier; 2.4.3 and earlierNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 10Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 6Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9Not specified in the recordNot stated
DovecotDovecotbefore 2.4.42.4.4

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.4HighCNA (open-xchange.com)
CVSS 3.19.1CriticalNVD
CVSS 3.17.4HighCNA

Official description

When safe filter is used with variable expansion, all following pipelines on the same string are incorrectly interpreted as safe too, enabling unsafe data to be unescaped. This can enable SQL / LDAP injection attacks when used in authentication. Avoid using safe filter until on fixed version. No publicly available exploits are known.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Handling of Extra Parameters

The product does not handle or incorrectly handles when the number of parameters, fields, or arguments with the same name exceeds the expected amount.

More Improper Handling of Extra Parameters vulnerabilities (CWE-235)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in OX Dovecot Pro

All OX Dovecot Pro vulnerabilities

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