CVE-2011-1720
The SMTP server in Postfix before 2.5.13, 2.6.x before 2.6.10, 2.7.x before 2.7.4, and 2.8.x...
CVE-2011-1720 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.8) in Postfix, published May 10, 2011. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 21.7%, the 97th percentile. Fixed in postfix 2.8.3-1.
- Severity
- 6.8 MediumCVSS 2.0, NVD
- Exploit chance
- 21.7%EPSS, 97th percentile
- Exploitation
- None knownNot on CISA’s or ENISA’s lists
- Fixed in
2.8.3-1postfix +22 more
Description
The SMTP server in Postfix before 2.5.13, 2.6.x before 2.6.10, 2.7.x before 2.7.4, and 2.8.x before 2.8.3, when certain Cyrus SASL authentication methods are enabled, does not create a new server handle after client authentication fails, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption and daemon crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via an invalid AUTH command with one method followed by an AUTH command with a different method.
Exploit likelihood
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
postfixDebian:12 | before 2.8.3-1 | 2.8.3-1 |
postfixDebian:13 | before 2.8.3-1 | 2.8.3-1 |
postfixDebian:14 | before 2.8.3-1 | 2.8.3-1 |
postfixDebian:5.0 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs | before 2.5.5-1.1+lenny1, plus listed versions 2.5.5-1.1 | 2.5.5-1.1+lenny1 |
postfixDebian:6.0 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs | before 2.7.1-1+squeeze1, plus listed versions 2.7.1-1 | 2.7.1-1+squeeze1 |
postfixRed Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | before 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 | 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 |
postfix-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | before 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 | 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 |
postfix-pflogsummRed Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | before 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 | 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 |
postfixRed Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop | before 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 | 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 |
postfix-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop | before 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 | 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 |
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| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
postfix-pflogsummRed Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop | before 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 | 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 |
postfixRed Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es | before 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 | 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 |
postfix-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es | before 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 | 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 |
postfix-pflogsummRed Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es | before 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 | 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 |
postfixRed Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws | before 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 | 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 |
postfix-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws | before 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 | 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 |
postfix-pflogsummRed Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws | before 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 | 2:2.2.10-1.5.el4 |
postfixRed Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | before 2:2.3.3-2.3.el5_6 | 2:2.3.3-2.3.el5_6 |
postfix-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | before 2:2.3.3-2.3.el5_6 | 2:2.3.3-2.3.el5_6 |
postfix-pflogsummRed Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | before 2:2.3.3-2.3.el5_6 | 2:2.3.3-2.3.el5_6 |
postfixRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | before 2:2.6.6-2.2.el6_1 | 2:2.6.6-2.2.el6_1 |
postfix-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | before 2:2.6.6-2.2.el6_1 | 2:2.6.6-2.2.el6_1 |
postfix-perl-scriptsRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | before 2:2.6.6-2.2.el6_1 | 2:2.6.6-2.2.el6_1 |
What each source reports
NVD Score used 6.8
The SMTP server in Postfix before 2.5.13, 2.6.x before 2.6.10, 2.7.x before 2.7.4, and 2.8.x before 2.8.3, when certain Cyrus SASL authentication methods are enabled, does not create a new server handle after client authentication fails, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption and daemon crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via an invalid AUTH command with one method followed by an AUTH command with a different method.
- Record
CVE-2011-1720- CVSS 2.0
- 6.8 Medium
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-119
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE ListNo score
The SMTP server in Postfix before 2.5.13, 2.6.x before 2.6.10, 2.7.x before 2.7.4, and 2.8.x before 2.8.3, when certain Cyrus SASL authentication methods are enabled, does not create a new server handle after client authentication fails, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption and daemon crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via an invalid AUTH command with one method followed by an AUTH command with a different method.
- Record
CVE-2011-1720- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2011-1719No score
The SMTP server in Postfix before 2.5.13, 2.6.x before 2.6.10, 2.7.x before 2.7.4, and 2.8.x before 2.8.3, when certain Cyrus SASL authentication methods are enabled, does not create a new server handle after client authentication fails, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption and daemon crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via an invalid AUTH command with one method followed by an AUTH command with a different method.
- Record
EUVD-2011-1719- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-8j5r-6hhw-hf9gNo score
The SMTP server in Postfix before 2.5.13, 2.6.x before 2.6.10, 2.7.x before 2.7.4, and 2.8.x...
The SMTP server in Postfix before 2.5.13, 2.6.x before 2.6.10, 2.7.x before 2.7.4, and 2.8.x before 2.8.3, when certain Cyrus SASL authentication methods are enabled, does not create a new server handle after client authentication fails, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption and daemon crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via an invalid AUTH command with one method followed by an AUTH command with a different method.
- Record
GHSA-8j5r-6hhw-hf9g- Weakness
- CWE-119
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVNo score
The SMTP server in Postfix before 2.5.13, 2.6.x before 2.6.10, 2.7.x before 2.7.4, and 2.8.x before 2.8.3, when certain Cyrus SASL authentication methods are enabled, does not create a new server handle after client authentication fails, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption and daemon crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via an invalid AUTH command with one method followed by an AUTH command with a different method.
- Record
CVE-2011-1720- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2011-1720No score
The SMTP server in Postfix before 2.5.13, 2.6.x before 2.6.10, 2.7.x before 2.7.4, and 2.8.x before 2.8.3, when certain Cyrus SASL authentication methods are enabled, does not create a new server handle after client authentication fails, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption and daemon crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via an invalid AUTH command with one method followed by an AUTH command with a different method.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2011-1720- Updated
- 2026-11-02
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
References
securityfocus.com/archive/1/517917/100/0/threaded
postfix.org/CVE-2011-1720.html
secunia.com/advisories/44500
securityfocus.com/bid/47778
security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201206-33.xml
osvdb.org/72259
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kb.cert.org/vuls/id/727230
securitytracker.com/id?1025521
mail-archive.com/postfix-announce%40postfix.org/msg00007.html
postfix.org/announcements/postfix-2.8.3.html
securityreason.com/securityalert/8247
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-05/msg00002.html
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=699035
mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:090
kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10705
debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2233
ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1131-1
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/67359
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-1720
mail-archive.com/postfix-announce@postfix.org/msg00007.html
github.com/advisories/GHSA-8j5r-6hhw-hf9g
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2011-1720
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2011:0843
access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2011/rhsa-2011_0843.json
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2011-1720
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-1720