CVE-2003-0688

CVE-2003-0688 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Redhat Sendmail with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.0. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Description

The DNS map code in Sendmail 8.12.8 and earlier, when using the "enhdnsbl" feature, does not properly initialize certain data structures, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (process crash) via an invalid DNS response that causes Sendmail to free incorrect data.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2003-0688?
The DNS map code in Sendmail 8.12.8 and earlier, when using the "enhdnsbl" feature, does not properly initialize certain data structures, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (process crash) via an invalid DNS response that causes Sendmail to free incorrect data.
How severe is CVE-2003-0688?
CVE-2003-0688 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.0, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-2003-0688 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (87th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2003-0688?
CVE-2003-0688 primarily affects Redhat Sendmail. In total, 26 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2003-0688?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2003-0688 published?
CVE-2003-0688 was published on 2003-10-20 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (26)