maddy: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an LDAP Query
CVE-2026-40193 is a high-severity improper neutralization of special elements used in an LDAP query vulnerability in maddy from Foxcpp, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected maddy versions: < 0.9.3. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.43% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of maddy you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
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
- LowLimited modification of data is possible.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N. Scored by CNA (github.com).
Official description
maddy is a composable, all-in-one mail server. Versions prior to 0.9.3 contain an LDAP injection vulnerability in the auth.ldap module where user-supplied usernames are interpolated into LDAP search filters and DN strings via strings.ReplaceAll() without any LDAP filter escaping, despite the go-ldap/ldap/v3 library's ldap.EscapeFilter() function being available in the same import. This affects three code paths: the Lookup() filter, the AuthPlain() DN template, and the AuthPlain() filter. An attacker with network access to the SMTP submission or IMAP interface can inject arbitrary LDAP filter expressions through the username field in AUTH PLAIN or LOGIN commands. This enables identity spoofing by manipulating filter results to authenticate as another user, LDAP directory enumeration via wildcard filters, and blind extraction of LDAP attribute values using authentication responses as a boolean oracle or via timing side-channels between the two distinct failure paths. This issue has been fixed in version 0.9.3.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an LDAP Query
The product constructs all or part of an LDAP query using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended LDAP query when it is sent to a downstream component.
More Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an LDAP Query vulnerabilities (CWE-90)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Patches and release notes
Other vulnerabilities in maddy
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
Recent Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an LDAP Query vulnerabilities
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
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