CVE-2026-38728
smtp-server's command parser memory exhaustion denial-of-service
An issue in Nodemailer smtp_server before v.3.18.3 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service via the SMTPStream._write, lib/smtp-stream.js components
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
7.5
An issue in Nodemailer smtp_server before v.3.18.3 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service via the SMTPStream._write, lib/smtp-stream.js components
- Record
CVE-2026-38728- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-400
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-30546
7.5
An issue in Nodemailer smtp_server before v.3.18.3 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service via the SMTPStream._write, lib/smtp-stream.js components
- Record
EUVD-2026-30546- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-fv2f-rw9f-v9cm
8.7
smtp-server's command parser memory exhaustion denial-of-service
smtp-server prior to v3.18.3 are vulnerable to unauthenticated memory exhaustion denial-of-service. smtp-server's command parser allows any remote client to consume server memory by sending data without newline characters. The server's _remainder buffer in SMTPStream._write grows without limit, leading to heap exhaustion, prolonged GC pauses that freeze the event loop, and in some cases, process crash.
The _write method in lib/smtp-stream.js appends incoming TCP chunks to this._remainder in command mode. The buffer is only emptied when a newline is found. If a client never sends a newline, the _remainder value will grow indefinitely, causing excess memory consumption.
- Record
GHSA-fv2f-rw9f-v9cm- CVSS 4.0
- 8.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-400
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
7.5
An issue in Nodemailer smtp_server before v.3.18.3 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service via the SMTPStream._write, lib/smtp-stream.js components
- Record
CVE-2026-38728- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-400
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
7.5
An issue in Nodemailer smtp_server before v.3.18.3 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service via the SMTPStream._write, lib/smtp-stream.js components
- Record
CVE-2026-38728- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-fv2f-rw9f-v9cm
8.7
smtp-server's command parser memory exhaustion denial-of-service
smtp-server prior to v3.18.3 are vulnerable to unauthenticated memory exhaustion denial-of-service. smtp-server's command parser allows any remote client to consume server memory by sending data without newline characters. The server's _remainder buffer in SMTPStream._write grows without limit, leading to heap exhaustion, prolonged GC pauses that freeze the event loop, and in some cases, process crash.
The _write method in lib/smtp-stream.js appends incoming TCP chunks to this._remainder in command mode. The buffer is only emptied when a newline is found. If a client never sends a newline, the _remainder value will grow indefinitely, causing excess memory consumption.
- Record
GHSA-fv2f-rw9f-v9cm- CVSS 4.0
- 8.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-400
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
smtp-servernpm |
before 3.18.3 | 3.18.3 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-38728 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.5) in smtp-server, published May 15, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.57%, the 47th percentile. Fixed in smtp-server 3.18.3.
References
github.com/nodemailer/smtp-server
github.com/nodemailer/smtp-server/releases/tag/v3.18.3
bytecreator.dev/blog/CVE-2026-38728
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-38728
github.com/nodemailer/smtp-server/commit/592c5666fa0c76d1d04c1a32abad0ef806fbfe97
github.com/advisories/GHSA-fv2f-rw9f-v9cm
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/38xxx/CVE-2026-38728.json